1
2
as in to awake
to cease to be asleep
she usually wakens when sunlight begins to stream through the windows
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waken
Lebanon in the crosshairs: Beirut was wakened Thursday by at least six Israeli airstrikes slamming into the southern suburbs of the city.
—
Júlia Ledur, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2026
However, my condo association includes several dozen inland three-story condominium buildings, which means that the chance that our residents will be wakened by their building collapsing around them is near zero.
—Bruce Strom, Sun Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2025
More than that, there is obvious attraction — Mags has a bisexual side that suddenly wakens from long slumber.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
Two easy arm swing stretches to waken your shoulders after hours hunched over computers and phones.
—Jonathan Beverly, Outside Online, 19 May 2020
Or later consciousness resurfaces in the morning on my return to the wakening world.
—Christof Koch, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2017
The dogs were asleep in their kennels at the time and wakened only when the would-be thief was discovered by the staff.
—Anne F. Thurston, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2016
Júlia Ledur, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2026
However, my condo association includes several dozen inland three-story condominium buildings, which means that the chance that our residents will be wakened by their building collapsing around them is near zero.
—Bruce Strom, Sun Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2025
More than that, there is obvious attraction — Mags has a bisexual side that suddenly wakens from long slumber.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
Two easy arm swing stretches to waken your shoulders after hours hunched over computers and phones.
—Jonathan Beverly, Outside Online, 19 May 2020
Or later consciousness resurfaces in the morning on my return to the wakening world.
—Christof Koch, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2017
The dogs were asleep in their kennels at the time and wakened only when the would-be thief was discovered by the staff.
—Anne F. Thurston, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waken
Verb
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So, that December, my parents woke me up in the middle of the night for our last cross-country drive through the underground.—
Zayd Ayers Dohrn,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
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The patterns displayed during active sleep often resemble those seen during waking behaviors, supporting the idea that the brain may be reactivating prior experiences.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Exports spiked; Americans awoke to the pleasures of their native whiskey.—
Adam Sachs,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Americans awoke to another air traffic tragedy this week.—
Robert Poole,
Washington Post,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Cynthia Trevino, a resident for 27 years, said she’s been awakened at 3 and 4 in the morning by planes that fail to follow the airport’s voluntary noise abatement program.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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The original movie, released in 1999, starred Fraser as treasure hunter who travels to Egypt in the 1920s with a spunky librarian, played by Weisz, only to accidentally awaken a supernaturally powerful high priest.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Both of the Trotters grew up singing in the church and are steeped in the gospel music traditions that underpin their rousing blend of vintage country, soul, rock and funk.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
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These days, Thomas is gearing up to release his rousing new album Moo before heading out on the Moo Tour, which kicks off in Brooklyn this April.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waken. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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