Wakeful: meaning, definitions and examples

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wakeful

 

[ ˈweɪkfəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

state of alertness

Wakeful refers to a state of being alert and unable to sleep. It can describe a person who is fully awake and aware of their surroundings, often used in a context where sleepiness is the norm.

Synonyms

alert, attentive, aware, vigilant

Examples of usage

  • After two cups of coffee, I felt wakeful all night.
  • She was wakeful during the flight, unable to rest.
  • The baby is wakeful and ready to play.
  • In her wakeful state, she noticed every detail in the room.

Translations

Translations of the word "wakeful" in other languages:

🇵🇹 vigia

🇮🇳 जागृत

🇩🇪 wachsam

🇮🇩 waspada

🇺🇦 будний

🇵🇱 czujny

🇯🇵 覚醒した

🇫🇷 éveillé

🇪🇸 despierto

🇹🇷 uyanık

🇰🇷 깨어 있는

🇸🇦 متيقظ

🇨🇿 bdělý

🇸🇰 bdelý

🇨🇳 清醒的

🇸🇮 buden

🇮🇸 vakandi

🇰🇿 ояну

🇬🇪 გაღვიძებული

🇦🇿 oyanıq

🇲🇽 despierto

Etymology

The word 'wakeful' originates from Middle English 'wakful', a combination of 'wake' and the suffix '-ful', which implies 'full of' or 'characterized by'. 'Wake' itself comes from the Old English 'wacan', meaning 'to be awake or to arise'. Over time, the term has been used in various contexts, frequently relating to periods of wakefulness in contrast to sleep. The word has roots in Germanic languages, with cognates appearing in Old High German 'wahan' and Old Norse 'vakna', both signifying the act of being awake. As society's understanding of sleep patterns evolved, so did the use of 'wakeful', often associated with both the physiological state of being awake and the metaphorical 'wakefulness' related to awareness and alertness in different situations.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,878, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.