awakening

American  

[uh-wey-kuh-ning] / əˈweɪ kə nɪŋ /

adjective

1. rousing; quickening.

   an awakening interest in ballet.

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noun

1. the act of awaking from sleep.

2. a revival of interest or attention.

3. a recognition, realization, or coming into awareness of something.

   a rude awakening to the disagreeable facts.

4. a renewal of interest in religion, especially in a community; a revival.

awakening British  

/ əˈweɪkənɪŋ, əˈweɪknɪŋ /

noun

1. the start of a feeling or awareness in a person

   a picture of an emotional awakening

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Other Word Forms

• awakeningly adverb
• reawakening noun
• unawakening adjective

Etymology

Origin of awakening

First recorded in 1585–95; awaken + -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

The novel, partly narrated by SP’s great-grandson Mohit Chopra, illuminates the character’s rebellious awakening from his family with a punched-gut-riot stew of emotions.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

Natural disasters are inevitable, but often, the most devastating slumber for decades, sometimes centuries, only awakening when provoked.

From Salon • Mar. 20, 2026

Sara Pennypacker’s novel for young readers tells the story of a boy awakening to courage in Nazi-occupied France.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

If he’s correct, the current crude awakening for stocks may be short-lived.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

Then he had fallen asleep, and on awakening he looked at the world like a new man.

From "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse