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

Artists affiliated with the Wide Awakes have adopted the original group’s open-eye iconography to symbolize the new wave of followers’ social awakening. —Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 27 Apr. 2026

Brin’s political push reflects a broader awakening among California’s ultrawealthy. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2026

Still, the past decade has seen a string of new-agey boutique hotels populating the seaside town’s western shores, signaling a new awakening for this slice of France’s western coastline. —Monica Mendal, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2026

Prepare for Venus meeting Uranus to jolt you into a financial awakening. —Usa Today, USA Today, 23 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