- 1[intransitive, transitive] to wake, or make someone wake, from sleep waken (up) The child had just wakened. waken somebody (up) I was wakened by a knock at the door. 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.
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- 2[transitive] waken something to make someone remember something or feel something again The dream wakened a forgotten memory.
waken
verbNAmE//ˈweɪkən//
(formal)Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they waken he / she / it wakens
past simple wakened
-ing form wakening
Check pronunciation: waken