# awakening

/əˈweɪkənɪŋ/ (US) · /ɐwˈeɪknɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/awakening
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. waking from sleep

noun · CEFR B1

the act of waking up after being asleep.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. becoming aware

noun · CEFR B2

a moment when you suddenly understand or notice something important.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. religious revival

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a time when many people become very interested in religion again.

For teachers: a renewal of interest in or attention to religious faith within a community.

- 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.

### 4. rousing or exciting

adjective · CEFR B2 · Literary

starting to wake up or becoming active.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The trip to the mountains was a spiritual awakening for her.
- The documentary served as a rude awakening for many viewers regarding the reality of climate change.
- His sudden political awakening led him to join several local activist groups and eventually run for a seat on the city council.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.