awake 1 of 2

awake

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective awake contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of awake are alive, aware, cognizant, conscious, and sensible. While all these words mean "having knowledge of something," awake implies that one has become alive to something and is on the alert.

a country always awake to the threat of invasion

How do alive and sensible relate to one another, in the sense of awake?

Alive adds to sensible the implication of acute sensitivity to something.

alive to the thrill of danger

When is aware a more appropriate choice than awake?

The synonyms aware and awake are sometimes interchangeable, but aware implies vigilance in observing or alertness in drawing inferences from what one experiences.

aware of changes in climate

In what contexts can cognizant take the place of awake?

In some situations, the words cognizant and awake are roughly equivalent. However, cognizant implies having special or certain knowledge as from firsthand sources.

not fully cognizant of the facts

When would conscious be a good substitute for awake?

Although the words conscious and awake have much in common, conscious implies that one is focusing one's attention on something or is even preoccupied by it.

conscious that my heart was pounding

When is it sensible to use sensible instead of awake?

While the synonyms sensible and awake are close in meaning, sensible implies direct or intuitive perceiving especially of intangibles or of emotional states or qualities.

sensible of a teacher's influence

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of awake
Adjective
The city that never sleeps will be awake for a long time. Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2025 On his first evening, he was jolted awake by an air-raid siren. Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Verb
Smith awoke Tuesday with a 66 percent ground-ball rate. Chandler Rome, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025 If the quarter-final triumph against Real Madrid had a dreamlike quality, this was a game in which Arsenal awoke to the harsh realities of the sharp end of the Champions League. James McNicholas, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for awake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awake
Adjective
  • Tips to Break the Bedtime Screen Habit Dr. Verma, who was not involved in the research, offers the following tips to prevent wakeful effects from smartphones and get better sleep: Avoid screens 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime.
    Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Lauren Goode: Who among us doesn't want to have a nap gently guided by our wakeful rhythm?
    Lauren Goode, WIRED, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Be alert to small inconsistencies in email addresses, phone numbers, or names.
    Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
  • Here's a breakdown of the three-tiered alert system from the NWS and what each level entails: High wind warning: Take action!
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • The Long Gray Line and character At West Point, cadets wake before the sun comes up, shoes shined, uniforms squared away.
    Brianna Keilar, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
  • Richardson woke him up, saying Leslie was overdosing.
    Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Two hours after co-chairing an online meeting of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), she was awakened by missiles striking her town, Kyiv.
    Joan Michelson, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • The girls’ training has awakened the men to request a seminar for the boys.
    Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • Stay informed, stay vigilant, and prioritize safety when enjoying the surf.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2025
  • Reese, the police lieutenant, urged pedestrians to remain vigilant.
    Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • Under the watchful eye of coach Jono Zissi, the program has morphed from a perennial contender into a certified dynasty.
    Clark Fahrenthold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2025
  • Behind them, quiet and watchful, Maester Rodrik whispered a prayer to gods long abandoned, his voice trembling with dread beneath the vast, indifferent sky.
    Kelsey Piper, Vox, 12 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Awake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awake. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on awake

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!