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
-
Some of Iris Nemani’s earliest memories of the arts have to do with her parents waking her up — as a very young child — late at night to watch classic movie musicals on TV.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
The bitter, woke drumbeat is not working any more.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Newlywed wife Jesni Fiji, knocked out from the tragic crash and reportedly surviving with no broken bones and just cuts and bruises, awoke Saturday morning in shock and horror over what surrounded her, including her new husband Dave Fiji's body, the groom's father told Atlanta News First (ANF).—
Eric Mack,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
-
However, Erickson had already awoken and confronted him with the gun to try to frighten him.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Perhaps our ashes will awaken to a morning, one day.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
The project is designed for the purpose of perpetuating local heritage and to awaken interest and develop civic pride.—
Andrea Manes,
Oc Register,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Though Export’s radical feminist art grew out of a particular political moment that had pretty much passed by the time Yuskavage began her career, the artists nonetheless share a rabble-rousing sensibility and an obsession with the unnerving visual punch of the female body.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
23 May 2026
-
The energy is the main draw here, with a second-story bar and lounge overlooking a stage where rousing live acts span rotating bands, live band karaoke, and late-night DJs every weekend.—
Skye Sherman,
Southern Living,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waken. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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