# wake

/ˈweɪk/ (US) · /wˈeɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wake
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to stop sleeping

verb · CEFR A1

to stop sleeping and become active, or to make someone else stop sleeping.

For teachers: to emerge from a state of sleep or to rouse another person from sleep; frequently functions as a phrasal verb with 'up'.

- I usually wake up at six, but today I slept until eight.
- She had to wake the children early to ensure they reached the station before the first train departed.

### 2. to stir or excite

verb · CEFR B2 · Literary

to start a feeling or an activity that was quiet before.

For teachers: to arouse or excite a feeling, memory, or state of activity from a dormant condition.

- The old song started to wake memories of his childhood home.
- The sudden political crisis served to wake the dormant passions of the electorate, leading to unprecedented turnout at the polls.

### 3. path behind a ship/object

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the track of waves or bubbles left behind a boat or object moving through water.

For teachers: the track of disturbed water or air left behind a moving ship, aircraft, or other body.

- The small boat rocked in the wake of the giant cruise ship.
- Pilots must maintain a safe distance to avoid the dangerous wake turbulence generated by heavy aircraft during takeoff.

### 4. funeral gathering

noun · CEFR B2

a gathering of family and friends to remember a person who has died.

For teachers: a watch or social gathering held in connection with a funeral, traditionally occurring before the burial.

- Friends gathered at the family home for the wake to share stories of his life.
- The traditional wake lasted through the night, providing a space for the community to offer their final respects before the morning service.

### 5. in the aftermath

noun · CEFR B2

used in the phrase 'in the wake of' to mean something that happens after an event.

For teachers: the aftermath or consequence of an event; almost exclusively used in the prepositional phrase 'in the wake of'.

- In the wake of the storm, many houses were left without power.
- The government implemented strict new regulations in the wake of the financial scandal to prevent future market manipulation.

Usage: Always used with the preposition 'of' to indicate a following result.

## Examples

- The small boat rocked in the wake of the large ship.
- The pilot warned the smaller aircraft about the wake turbulence created by the departing jumbo jet.
- The legislative changes left a series of unintended economic consequences in their wake, forcing local businesses to adapt rapidly to the new regulatory landscape.

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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.