awakening
noun
awak·en·ing
ə-ˈwāk-niŋ 
ə-ˈwā-kə-
plural awakenings
1
: a rousing from sleep
The night terror is an abrupt awakening early in the night, most often within the first hour or two of sleep …—
Franklin Galvin et al.
Franklin Galvin et al.2
a
: a rousing from inactivity or indifference
… one of the primary branches of yoga … prescribes various practices to assist the yogi in the gradual awakening of the heart.—James Bailey
James Bailey
b
: a revival of interest in something (such as religion)
Russian Jews themselves experienced a cultural and political awakening after Israel's victory, some openly challenging their government's ban on religious and Hebrew training.—Jonathan D. Sarna
Jonathan D. Sarna3
: a coming into awareness
Like his discovery of literature, this intimacy becomes an awakening to the possibilities of life.—Morris Dickstein
Morris DicksteinExamples of awakening in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With her, Barlow takes a journey of spiritual awakening.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Both were writers, and both embraced religious awakenings as adults; Allen embraced Neo-Buddhist philosophy in his 50s and has since become a spiritual coach, while Lamott became a churchgoing Christian in her early 30s and has made her faith a major theme in her writing.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Houston would collect five more such hits Saturday night in an offensive awakening.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 29 Mar. 2026
Since the early days of the pandemic — which is when many Stationerycore fans and creators at the festival date their stationery awakening — the stationery industry has been steadily expanding, even blowing up.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
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Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Both were writers, and both embraced religious awakenings as adults; Allen embraced Neo-Buddhist philosophy in his 50s and has since become a spiritual coach, while Lamott became a churchgoing Christian in her early 30s and has made her faith a major theme in her writing.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Houston would collect five more such hits Saturday night in an offensive awakening.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 29 Mar. 2026
Since the early days of the pandemic — which is when many Stationerycore fans and creators at the festival date their stationery awakening — the stationery industry has been steadily expanding, even blowing up.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for awakening
Cite this Entry
“Awakening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/awakening. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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