# woken

/ˈwoʊkən/ (US) · /wˈəʊkən/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. stopped sleeping

verb · CEFR B1

the form of 'wake' used after 'have' or 'has' to mean you are no longer asleep.

For teachers: the past participle of 'wake' used in the present perfect or past perfect to denote the transition from sleep to wakefulness.

- I have woken up at six o'clock every day this week.
- By the time the sun had fully risen, the entire household had woken and begun their morning chores in the kitchen.

### 2. made someone else wake up

verb · CEFR B1

the form of 'wake' used when someone or something else has caused you to stop sleeping.

For teachers: the past participle of 'wake' used transitively or in passive constructions to indicate being roused by an external force.

- The loud thunder has woken the baby twice tonight.
- The residents were woken by the persistent blare of a car alarm that echoed through the narrow street for nearly an hour.

### 3. socially aware

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

to become more aware of social or political problems.

For teachers: to become or cause to become 'woke' in the sense of heightened social or political consciousness.

- He says he has finally woken to the reality of climate change.
- The documentary aimed to ensure that viewers were woken to the systemic inequalities present in the modern housing market.

Usage: Often used figuratively to describe a sudden realization or shift in perspective.

## Examples

- I have woken up early every day this week.
- The loud thunder had woken the children before the rain even started to fall.
- Having been woken by the persistent chirping of birds outside her window, she decided to start her morning walk earlier than usual.

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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.