to arouse (feelings, etc) or cause to remember (memories, etc)
adjective(postpositive)
5.
not sleeping
6. (sometimes foll by to)
lively or alert
▶ USAGE See note at wake1
Word origin
Old English awacian, awacan; see wake1
awake in American English
(əˈweɪk)
verb transitiveWord forms: aˈwoke or aˈwaked, aˈwaked or aˈwoken, aˈwaking
1.
to rouse from sleep; wake
2.
to rouse from inactivity; stir up
3.
to call forth (memories, fear, etc.)
4.
to make aware
with to
verb intransitive
5.
to come out of sleep; wake
6.
to become active
7.
to become aware
with to
adjective
8.
not asleep
9.
active or alert; aware
Word origin
a merging of two words: ME awaken < OE awacan (on-, out + wacan, to arise, awake) & ME awakien < OE awacian (on-, out + wacian, to be awake, watch): see wake1
Examples of 'awake' in a sentence
awake
The best way to ensure this is to be awake fully during the day.
The Sun (2016)
Iceman lay awake at night and wondered about the way of things.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Blue light emitted from phones will keep you awake.
The Sun (2017)
It was just not necessarily at a speed at which the audience could fairly be expected to stay awake.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Not surprisingly with such long study hours, staying awake is a problem.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We've awoken a sleeping giant!
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The reigning Wimbledon champion has recounted a spooky episode in which he once awoke to find a hotel maid stroking his arm.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I want to prove I am wide awake.
The Sun (2016)
The mournful sound kept her awake because she felt mournful herself.
Frances Hodgson Burnett The Secret Garden (1911)
Staying awake long enough to finish his sentences seemed an almighty struggle.
Christopher Ross TUNNEL VISIONS: Journeys of an Underground Philosopher (2001)
You stop being fully awake and alive.
Christianity Today (2000)
What keeps me awake at night is that.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He remembered afterward how intensely wide awake and alert he had thought he was.
Frances Hodgson Burnett The Secret Garden (1911)
The patient is completely awake and aware.
The Sun (2010)
When you turn it off your brain is still awake.
The Sun (2016)
They awoke to find themselves buried under concrete.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The thought of chewing on it keeps me awake at night.
The Sun (2011)
The family regularly awoke to the sound of gunfire and tanks pounding nearby homes.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
All at once he was wide awake.
Kerr, Katharine A Time of War (1993)
So follow our pointers to beat the afternoon slump and stay awake when you need to.
The Sun (2016)
We stayed awake at night listening to him breathe.
Martin, April The Guide to Lesbian and Gay Parenting (1993)
Be certain to have some strong coffee ready to help you remain awake and alert.
The Sun (2016)
Some of the images still keep me awake.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It all comes from strange ideas that keep you awake at half past four in the morning.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
After five hours sleep there is only a one in ten chance of staying fully awake on a lengthy journey.
The Sun (2008)
These occurred whether patients were awake or asleep, suggesting the music subconsciously affects brain cells.
The Sun (2010)
In those early months, the biggest challenge was working out if he was awake or asleep.
The Sun (2014)
After he awoke to the sound of gunfire, he could be seen fleeing the hotel with his men.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I just feel awake and aware.
The Sun (2014)
In other languages
awake
British English: awake /əˈweɪk/ ADJECTIVE
If you are awake, you are not sleeping.
I stayed awake worrying.
American English: awake
Arabic: مُسْتَيْقِظ
Brazilian Portuguese: acordado
Chinese: 醒着的
Croatian: budan
Czech: probuzený
Danish: vågen
Dutch: wakker
European Spanish: despierto
Finnish: hereillä oleva
French: éveillé
German: wach
Greek: ξύπνιος
Italian: sveglio
Japanese: 眠らずに
Korean: 깨어 있는
Norwegian: våken
Polish: przebudzony
European Portuguese: acordado estado desperto
Romanian: treaz
Russian: бодрствующий
Latin American Spanish: despierto
Swedish: vaken
Thai: ตื่น
Turkish: uyanık
Ukrainian: бадьорий
Vietnamese: thức
British English: awake /əˈweɪk/ VERB
When you awake, or when something awakes you, you wake up.
The sound of many voices awoke her.
American English: awaken
Arabic: يُفَيقُ
Brazilian Portuguese: despertar
Chinese: 唤醒
Croatian: buditi
Czech: probudit (se)
Danish: vække
Dutch: wakker worden
European Spanish: despertar
Finnish: herätä
French: réveiller
German: aufwecken
Greek: ξυπνώ κάποιον
Italian: svegliarsi
Japanese: 目が覚める
Korean: 잠에서 깨다
Norwegian: våkne
Polish: obudzić się
European Portuguese: despertar
Romanian: a deștepta
Russian: будить
Latin American Spanish: despertar
Swedish: vakna
Thai: ปลุก ทำให้ตื่น
Turkish: uyanmak
Ukrainian: прокидатися
Vietnamese: đánh thức
Chinese translation of 'awake'
awake
(əˈweɪk)
Word forms:ptawoke
Word forms:ppawokenawakened
adj
to be awake醒着(著)的 (xǐngzhe de)
vt
(liter) 唤(喚)醒 (huànxǐng)
vi
(liter) 醒来(來) (xǐnglái)
wide awake完全清醒 (wánquán qīngxǐng)
he lay awake all night worrying他整晚忧(憂)心忡忡地睡不着(著)觉(覺) (tā zhěngwǎn yōuxīn chōngchōng de shuì bù zháo jiào)
1 (verb)
Definition
to emerge or rouse from sleep
I awoke to the sound of the wind in the trees.
Synonyms
wake up
come to
wake
It was still dark when I woke.
stir
I was intrigued by him, stirred by his intellect.
awaken
He was snoring when I awakened him.
rouse
She roused him at 8.30.
2 (verb)
Definition
to become or cause to become alert
He had awoken interest in the sport again.
Synonyms
alert
excite
stimulate
I was stimulated to examine my deepest thoughts.
provoke
revive
They tried in vain to revive him.
arouse
His work has aroused intense interest.
activate
awaken
fan
animate
stir up
incite
kick-start (informal)
enliven
kindle
breathe life into
call forth
vivify
3 (verb)
The aim was to awaken an interest in foreign cultures.
Synonyms
stimulate
excite
The proposal failed to excite our interest.
provoke
His comments have provoked a shocked reaction.
activate
video cameras that can be activated by computer
alert
animate
There was little about the game to animate the crowd.
fan
economic problems which often fan hatred
stir up
incite
He incited his fellow citizens to take revenge.
kick-start (informal)
He has chosen to kick-start the economy by slashing interest rates.
enliven
Her presence enlivened even the most boring meeting.
kindle
These poems have helped kindle the imagination of generations of children.
breathe life into
call forth
vivify
1 (adjective)
Definition
not sleeping
I don't stay awake at night worrying about that.
Synonyms
not sleeping
sleepless
wide-awake
aware
waking
conscious
She was fully conscious throughout the operation.
aroused
awakened
restless
restive
wakeful
Wakeful babies often continue to need little sleep as they grow older.
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
Opposites
sleeping
,
asleep
,
unconscious
,
napping
,
dormant
,
crashed out (slang)
,
dozing
,
dead to the world (informal)
2 (adjective)
Definition
alert or aware
They are awake to the challenge of stemming the exodus.
Synonyms
alert
He had been spotted by an alert neighbour.
aware
on the lookout
alive
I never expected to feel so alive in my life again.
attentive
I wish you would be more attentive to detail.
on the alert
observant
An observant doctor can detect symptoms from expression and posture.
watchful
Children swam at the pool, under the watchful eye of the lifeguards.
on guard
on your toes
heedful
vigilant
Police warned the public to be vigilant and report anything suspicious.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of activate
Definition
to make something active
video cameras that can be activated by computer
Synonyms
start,
move,
trigger (off),
stimulate,
turn on,
set off,
initiate,
switch on,
propel,
rouse,
prod,
get going,
mobilize,
kick-start (informal),
set in motion,
impel,
galvanize,
set going,
actuate,
prompt,
stir,
motivate,
arouse,
animate,
energize
in the sense of alive
Definition
lively
I never expected to feel so alive in my life again.
Synonyms
lively,
spirited,
active,
vital,
alert,
eager,
quick,
awake,
vigorous,
cheerful,
energetic,
animated,
brisk,
agile,
perky,
chirpy (informal),
sprightly,
vivacious,
full of life,
spry,
full of beans (informal),
zestful
in the sense of animate
Definition
to make lively
There was little about the game to animate the crowd.