wake 1 of 2

noun

Definition of wakenext
as in consciousness

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wake

2 of 2

verb

ˈwāk How to pronounce wake (audio)
1
as in to awaken
to cause to stop sleeping my banging around in the kitchen woke my wife

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to awake
to cease to be asleep I woke with a start when the door slammed

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to warn
to give notice to beforehand especially of danger or risk a public service announcement designed to wake people to the dangers of aggressive driving

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 wake
Noun
Crump said the pathologist noted injury patterns on Kohen’s body caused by debris in the bullet’s wake and displayed a picture showing several abrasions on the child’s right torso. — Bracey Harris, NBC news, 1 July 2026 She was also celebrated with a career-spanning tribute featuring many of the artists who have followed in her wake. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 29 June 2026
Verb
Beyond the huge gym windows, Maharashtra is waking to another green-gold morning of bulbul birdsong and mooching mongooses. — Horatio Clare, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 June 2026 Facial puffiness on waking happens because lymph flow slows overnight when the body is horizontal and still, letting fluid pool in the face. — Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wake
  1. consciousness
  2. awaken
  3. awake
  4. warn
  5. wakefulness
  6. rouse
  7. alert
Noun
  • Guthrie died in 1967 at age 55, but his music has never faded from the American consciousness.
    — Steve Appleford, Rolling Stone, 4 July 2026
  • The search for machine consciousness has gone mainstream, and companies such as Google, Meta and OpenAI are hiring philosophers to explore questions about AI welfare.
    — Benjamin Guggenheim, Washington Post, 2 July 2026
Definition of consciousness
Verb
  • Badly wounded in a battle of revenge, Robin Hood is brought to a priory and tended by Sister Brigid (Jodie Comer), whose generosity awakens his finer feelings and spurs him to virtuous, self-sacrificing action.
    — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 26 June 2026
  • Once your makeup is removed and your face is cleansed, add a hydrating cream like the All About Eyes Lightweight Eye Cream, then use the De-Puffing Eye Roller in the morning to awaken and brighten your eyes for the day.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 26 June 2026
Definition of awaken
Verb
  • In the study, people who ranked in the top 20% for sleep regularity went to sleep and awoke within a roughly one-hour window most days.
    — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2026
  • By the time the game ended, Sasaki’s three-inning start seemed like a murky nightmare the Dodgers awoke from in a sweat.
    — Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Definition of awake
Verb
  • Similarly, Newport Beach had warned partygoers to avoid lawbreaking before the takeover.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Oman’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the latest attacks against Bahrain and Kuwait in an X post, warning that the escalation of military tensions in the region poses a threat to not only its security, but overall maritime safety.
    — Jamie Gray, NBC news, 9 July 2026
Definition of warn
Noun
  • The clinical data demonstrated significant improvements in wakefulness and reductions in excessive daytime sleepiness at week eight, outperforming the placebo with a generally favorable safety profile.
    — Sasirekha Subramanian, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • Night after night of lying there frustrated, anxious, wide awake, calculating how few hours remain, and the bed slowly becomes a cue for wakefulness and worry instead of sleep.
    — Sharon Brandwein, USA Today, 27 June 2026
Definition of wakefulness
Verb
  • Rhaenyra is at her happiest finally facing the hungry people of King’s Landing, giving a rousing speech before passing out bread and fruit and grain and other sundries to the smallfolk.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • The film culminates in the Battle of the Monongahela in 1755, where Washington steps up and delivers a rousing speech to the British army despite their defeat.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of rouse
Verb
  • New York’s emergency notification system also alerted residents Tuesday morning of potential traffic delays in the area and urged people to use alternate routes.
    — Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump had alerted Congress Wednesday of the administration’s intent to rescind Syria’s designation following a 45-day period -- the amount of time required for congressional review.
    — Mariam Khan, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of alert

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waiving
wake
wakeful
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Cite this Entry

“Wake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wake. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wake

Nglish: Translation of wake for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wake

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