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
A little less than a year later, Nelle gave birth to her second child, Ronald Wilson Reagan, a son born not so much into a religion as into an awakening.
—Richard D. Mahoney, JSTOR Daily, 30 Apr. 2025
What followed, Dyson says, was an artistic awakening.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025
The Birth of Earth Day On April 22, 1970, the United States witnessed an unprecedented environmental awakening as 20 million citizens—approximately 10% of the national population—gathered for the inaugural Earth Day.
—Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Belinda Belinda’s awakening is not nearly as rude as that of the Ratliff boys, but her son’s arrival does cut her snuggling session short.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for awakening
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Richard D. Mahoney, JSTOR Daily, 30 Apr. 2025
What followed, Dyson says, was an artistic awakening.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025
The Birth of Earth Day On April 22, 1970, the United States witnessed an unprecedented environmental awakening as 20 million citizens—approximately 10% of the national population—gathered for the inaugural Earth Day.
—Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Belinda Belinda’s awakening is not nearly as rude as that of the Ratliff boys, but her son’s arrival does cut her snuggling session short.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for awakening
Cite this Entry
“Awakening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/awakening. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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