awakening

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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

awakening

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present participle of awaken

Examples of awakening in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Drifting from place to place, swept into anti–Vietnam War protests during Nixon’s visit, free love, wild rock concerts, and decadent parties, his journey home becomes an awakening to heartbreak, loss, and freedom. — Annika Pham, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026

Once a hard partier with alcohol and drugs, Rose found sobriety in the window between the end of the pandemic and her gender awakening. — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026

The speaker in Hirshfield’s poem wakes twice, inviting us to consider both a physical awakening and a spiritual one. — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 15 Oct. 2026

Perhaps Karen isn’t the only woman experiencing a spiritual awakening this season. — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing awakening

• rude awakening

Rhymes for awakening

• reawakening
• wakening