Word
awakening
Phoneticsawak·en·ing
US/əˈweɪkənɪŋ/
UK/ɐwˈeɪknɪŋ/
Definitions
01waking from sleep
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. the act of waking up after being asleep.
n. the act of ceasing to sleep and returning to a state of consciousness.
“His sudden awakening was caused by a loud noise in the street.”
“The patient experienced a gradual awakening from the anaesthetic, initially appearing confused by the hospital surroundings before regaining full orientation.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02becoming aware
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a moment when you suddenly understand or notice something important.
n. the process of becoming aware of a situation, fact, or emotion; a sudden realization.
“The trip to the mountains was a spiritual awakening for her.”
“The documentary served as a rude awakening for many viewers who had previously ignored the environmental impact of their consumption habits.”
Synonyms
03religious revival
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Religion Formal
n. a time when many people become very interested in religion again.
n. a renewal of interest in or attention to religious faith within a community.
Español:despertar
“The town experienced a great religious awakening in the nineteenth century.”
“Historians often debate the social catalysts that triggered the Great Awakening and its subsequent influence on colonial American identity.”
04rousing or exciting
B2 · Upper Intermediate Literary
adj. starting to wake up or becoming active.
adj. coming into a state of awareness or activity; rousing from a dormant state.
“She watched the awakening city from her balcony as the sun rose.”
“The awakening instincts of the young predator were evident as it began to stalk the smaller creatures in the tall grass.”
Real-World Examples
“Sometimes when you wonder what people are thinking about you comes the rude awakening that they are not thinking about you at all.” “Here she writes about her childhood and political awakening, and reflects from the present moment on nearly 60 years of activism.” Etymology
From awaken + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/awakening
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0