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Wake: meaning, definitions and examples

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wake

 

[ weɪk ]

Verb / Noun
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Verb

up from sleep

Wake means to become conscious after sleeping. It is the process of transitioning from a state of sleep to a state of wakefulness.

Synonyms

arouse, awaken, stir

Examples of usage

  • I wake up at 6 AM every morning.
  • The alarm clock woke me from a deep sleep.
Context #2 | Noun

a watch or vigil held beside a dead body

Wake also refers to a watch or vigil held beside the body of someone who has died, often before the funeral.

Synonyms

vigil, watch

Examples of usage

  • The family held a wake for their loved one before the funeral.

Translations

Translations of the word "wake" in other languages:

🇵🇹 acordar

🇮🇳 जागना (jāgnā)

🇩🇪 aufwachen

🇮🇩 bangun

🇺🇦 прокидатися

🇵🇱 budzić się

🇯🇵 目覚める (mezameru)

🇫🇷 se réveiller

🇪🇸 despertarse

🇹🇷 uyanmak

🇰🇷 깨다 (kkaeda)

🇸🇦 استيقظ (istayqaz)

🇨🇿 probudit se

🇸🇰 zobudiť sa

🇨🇳 醒来 (xǐnglái)

🇸🇮 zbuditi se

🇮🇸 vakna

🇰🇿 ояту

🇬🇪 გაღვიძება (gaghvidzeba)

🇦🇿 oyanmaq

🇲🇽 despertarse

Word origin

The word 'wake' has Old English origins, with related words in other Germanic languages. Its original meaning was 'watch' or 'vigil'. Over time, it evolved to also mean 'to become conscious after sleeping'. The noun form of 'wake' being a vigil held beside a dead body has been in use for centuries as part of funeral customs.

See also: awake.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,747, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.