awakening

[uh-wey-kuh-ning]

adjective

1. rousing; quickening.

   an awakening interest in ballet.

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

/ əˈweɪkənɪŋ, əˈweɪknɪŋ /

noun

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

   a picture of an emotional awakening

Other Word Forms

• awakeningly adverb
• reawakening noun
• unawakening adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of awakening¹

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

Example Sentences

Saviour Iwezue traces her environmental awakening to when she was nine years old.

Read more on Barron's

Park had a similar awakening to Han Beom-woo’s when it came to discovering Korean palace cuisine on his journey to becoming a Korean craftsman cook.

Read more on Salon

I was really interested in exploring different phases of that awakening to realize you don’t even know who you’re with.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The inning had started well, with the lineup finally awakening.

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“Having that sort of awakening is good for you. I was able to look at myself, early in life, and realize that I don’t think this is for me.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times