awakening

noun

awak·​en·​ing ə-ˈwāk-niŋ 

ə-ˈwā-kə-

plural awakenings

1

: a rousing from sleep

The night terror is an abrupt awakening early in the night, most often within the first hour or two of sleep …

—Franklin Galvin et al.

2

a

: a rousing from inactivity or indifference

… one of the primary branches of yoga … prescribes various practices to assist the yogi in the gradual awakening of the heart.

—James Bailey

b

: a revival of interest in something (such as religion)

Russian Jews themselves experienced a cultural and political awakening after Israel's victory, some openly challenging their government's ban on religious and Hebrew training.

—Jonathan D. Sarna

3

: a coming into awareness

Like his discovery of literature, this intimacy becomes an awakening to the possibilities of life.

—Morris Dickstein

Examples of awakening in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But then Szabó-Temple entered university and experienced a political awakening. —Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026

The biggest story with the 8-7 Cardinals — and one of the biggest in baseball — is the awakening of right fielder Jordan Walker, who on Sunday hit his major-league leading seventh home run. —Levi Weaver, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026

Of course, the awakening is not universal. —Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026

Over the course of the story, Agnes experiences a powerful awakening. —A Martínez, NPR, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing awakening

• rude awakening

Rhymes for awakening

• reawakening
• wakening