wake
verb (used without object)
to become roused from sleep; awake; awaken; waken (often followed byup ).
had woken
-
past perfectof wake.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
My right arm had woken me up a few hours earlier, burning and swollen past the point where it even looked like an arm.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
Rosario, the foreman’s wife, had woken up at 4:30 a.m., as she always does, to make the couple a lunch of homemade tortillas, green beans and refried beans.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 30, 2025
She had woken from a nap to find her back door open and her son missing, according to a police report.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 18, 2025
Ayten Oktay, a 63-year-old pharmacist, said Turkey had "woken up", adding: "We will defend our rights until the end."
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2025
There was a flash of light and the room was full of voices: Everyone had woken up as Ron had let out a yell.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
