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 as much as the Game 1 win helped increase the Canadiens’ chances of advancing to their first Stanley Cup Final in five years, the awakening of their offensive engine in the process might have been even more beneficial and more promising for their future chances. —Arpon Basu, New York Times, 22 May 2026

This was largely spurred on by the dissolution of the Soviet Union which, much like North Korea, Cuba had long leaned on for material and financial support during the early days of its revolutionary awakening. —Drew Pittock, USA Today, 20 May 2026

But rather than imitate what came before, Hsu leans into Janet's awkward sincerity and gradual awakening, finding fresh emotional textures beneath the show's campy surface. —Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026

Although Season 1 is set in 1962 — 27 years before the cyclical awakening of Pennywise in the Muschiettis’ first movie — the brilliant finale episode (one of four directed by Andy) revealed that the spin-off series isn’t really a prequel at all. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing awakening

• rude awakening

Rhymes for awakening

• reawakening
• wakening