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2
as in to awake
to cease to be asleep
she usually wakens when sunlight begins to stream through the windows
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waken
Lebanon in the crosshairs: Beirut was wakened Thursday by at least six Israeli airstrikes slamming into the southern suburbs of the city.
—
Júlia Ledur, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2026
However, my condo association includes several dozen inland three-story condominium buildings, which means that the chance that our residents will be wakened by their building collapsing around them is near zero.
—Bruce Strom, Sun Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2025
More than that, there is obvious attraction — Mags has a bisexual side that suddenly wakens from long slumber.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
Two easy arm swing stretches to waken your shoulders after hours hunched over computers and phones.
—Jonathan Beverly, Outside Online, 19 May 2020
Or later consciousness resurfaces in the morning on my return to the wakening world.
—Christof Koch, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2017
The dogs were asleep in their kennels at the time and wakened only when the would-be thief was discovered by the staff.
—Anne F. Thurston, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2016
Júlia Ledur, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2026
However, my condo association includes several dozen inland three-story condominium buildings, which means that the chance that our residents will be wakened by their building collapsing around them is near zero.
—Bruce Strom, Sun Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2025
More than that, there is obvious attraction — Mags has a bisexual side that suddenly wakens from long slumber.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
Two easy arm swing stretches to waken your shoulders after hours hunched over computers and phones.
—Jonathan Beverly, Outside Online, 19 May 2020
Or later consciousness resurfaces in the morning on my return to the wakening world.
—Christof Koch, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2017
The dogs were asleep in their kennels at the time and wakened only when the would-be thief was discovered by the staff.
—Anne F. Thurston, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waken
Verb
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Pain upon waking A good mattress provides ample support for your spine and joints.—
Sharon Brandwein,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
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Firefighters say working smoke alarms woke a family as a fire tore through their home's garage Friday morning.—
Cecilio Padilla,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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One morning in 2024, the man had awoken with searing knee pain that turned out to be a meniscus tear.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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As the first bits of morning light awoke the day, early risers celebrated with Easter Sunday service on a hilltop in Anaheim Hills.—
Heather McRea,
Oc Register,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Cynthia Trevino, a resident for 27 years, said she’s been awakened at 3 and 4 in the morning by planes that fail to follow the airport’s voluntary noise abatement program.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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The original movie, released in 1999, starred Fraser as treasure hunter who travels to Egypt in the 1920s with a spunky librarian, played by Weisz, only to accidentally awaken a supernaturally powerful high priest.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
According to Meacham and Page, Reagan finally, and only after all other major candidates had dropped out of the race, intended to give a rousing speech supporting Bush at a black-tie gala on May 11th.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Hope rouses life to continue, to expand, to grow, to reach out, to go on.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waken. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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