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

This quest to believe in love again, while doubting whether it can be found is akin to a spiritual awakening. — Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026

Yet her awakening is dampened by her depressed father and cruel stepmother Abby (Rebecca Hall). — William Earl, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026

This humanitarian awakening later inspired her to found the American Red Cross in 1881. — Stewart McLaurin, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Carrie also faces the relentless pressure and casual cruelty of the social‑media age, and the awakening of mysterious telekinetic powers that rise alongside her adolescence. — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 10 Sep. 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