English Explanatory Dictionary

awaken

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb

To cause to become awake.
To stop sleeping; awake.
To bring into action (something previously dormant); to stimulate.
Of something previously dormant, to become active.
To call to a sense of sin.
past participle of awake
To cause to become aware.
To become aware.

Pronunciation

/əˈweɪkən/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-awaken.wav

Word forms

awaken awakens awakening awakened

Etymology

From Middle English awakenen or awaknen, from Old English awæcnan or awæcnian, from a- plus wæcnan or wæcnian.

Synonyms

arouse awake awaken bring round cry knock up rouse roust uprouse wake wake up waken stir abraid arise get up rise animate energize beghast leaven bright brighten cheer enliven enthuse exalt excite fire up ginger ginger up inflame invigorate inspire inspirit jazz kindle liven liven up perk up quicken spice spice up stimulate vitalise

Antonyms

anesthetize belull cradle knock out lull put down put to sleep fall asleep

Related words

reveille wakefulness

Derived words

awakenable awakener awakenment reawaken

Translations

Armenian: արթնացնել Danish: vække Estonian: äratama Finnish: herättää Finnish: havahduttaa Georgian: გაღვიძება German: erwachen German: wecken Hungarian: felébreszt Hungarian: felkelt Hungarian: kelt Hungarian: ébreszt Irish: múscail Latin: excito Norwegian Bokmål: vekke Portuguese: acordar Russian: пробужда́ть Russian: пробуди́ть Spanish: despertar Turkish: canlandırmak Turkish: ayıltmak

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