Awaken: meaning, definitions and examples

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awaken

 

[ əˈweɪkən ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

to become aware

To awaken means to stop sleeping, or to make someone stop sleeping. It can also mean to make someone aware of something, or to cause someone to become interested or responsive.

Synonyms

arouse, awake, rouse, stir

Examples of usage

  • He was awakened by the loud noise.
  • She awakened to the sound of birds chirping.
  • The tragic event awakened a sense of compassion in him.
  • His speech awakened the audience to the importance of climate change.
  • The shocking news awakened the community to the need for action.

Translations

Translations of the word "awaken" in other languages:

🇵🇹 despertar

🇮🇳 जगाना

🇩🇪 erwachen

🇮🇩 bangun

🇺🇦 прокидатися

🇵🇱 obudzić

🇯🇵 目覚める

🇫🇷 éveiller

🇪🇸 despertar

🇹🇷 uyandırmak

🇰🇷 깨우다

🇸🇦 استيقظ

🇨🇿 probudit

🇸🇰 prebudiť

🇨🇳 唤醒

🇸🇮 prebuditi

🇮🇸 vekja

🇰🇿 ояту

🇬🇪 გამოღვიძება

🇦🇿 oyatmaq

🇲🇽 despertar

Etymology

The word 'awaken' has roots in Old English, with the original word being 'āwæcnian.' The prefix 'a-' denotes a change in state, while 'wæcnian' means 'to become awake.' Over time, the word evolved into 'awaken' in Middle English, retaining its core meaning of coming out of sleep or becoming aware. The concept of awakening has been deeply intertwined with spiritual and philosophical ideas, symbolizing enlightenment and self-realization.

See also: awakened, awakeness, awakening, reawakening.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,602, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.