- 1[intransitive, transitive, often passive] to wake up; to make someone wake up awaken (somebody) (from/to something) She awakened to the sound of birds singing. awaken to do something We awakened to find the others gone. awaken somebody He was awakened at dawn by the sound of crying. Which Word?awake / awaken / wake up / waken
- Wake (up) is the most common of these verbs. It can mean someone has finished sleeping:What time do you usually wake up?or that somebody or something has disturbed your sleep:The children woke me up. I was woken (up) by the telephone.
- The verb awake is usually used only in writing and in the past tense awoke:She awoke to a day of brilliant sunshine.Waken and awaken are much more formal. Awaken is used especially in literature:The Prince awakened Sleeping Beauty with a kiss.
- Awake is also an adjective:I was awake half the night worrying. Is the baby awake yet?Waking is not used in this way.
- 2[intransitive, transitive] awaken (something) if an emotion awakens or something awakens an emotion, you start to feel that emotion The dream awakened terrible memories. Phrasal Verbsawaken to
awaken
verbNAmE//əˈweɪkən//
(formal)Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they awaken he / she / it awakens
past simple awakened
-ing form awakening
Check pronunciation: awaken