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

A little less than a year later, Nelle gave birth to her second child, Ronald Wilson Reagan, a son born not so much into a religion as into an awakening. —Richard D. Mahoney, JSTOR Daily, 30 Apr. 2025

What followed, Dyson says, was an artistic awakening. —Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025

The Birth of Earth Day On April 22, 1970, the United States witnessed an unprecedented environmental awakening as 20 million citizens—approximately 10% of the national population—gathered for the inaugural Earth Day. —Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025

Belinda Belinda’s awakening is not nearly as rude as that of the Ratliff boys, but her son’s arrival does cut her snuggling session short. —Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing awakening

• rude awakening

Rhymes for awakening

• reawakening
• wakening