waken
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to rouse from sleep; wake; awake; awaken.
-
to rouse from inactivity; stir up or excite; arouse; awaken.
to waken the reader's interest.
verb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of waken
before 900; Middle English waknen, Old English wæcnan; cognate with Old Norse vakna; akin to wake 1; see -en 1
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.
Enough noise to waken the dead, but not this lot, I thought.
From Salon • Sep. 1, 2025
If, for example, they don’t waken spontaneously in the morning, have tantrums, can’t focus in school or are sleepy in the afternoons, they might not be getting enough sleep.
From Washington Post • Jul. 7, 2022
According to the officers’ lawsuit, police spent 40 minutes trying to waken the couple, including using their sirens.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2022
He said: "Anybody who thinks we are going to roll over and accept this will have to waken up the reality we are not".
From BBC • Feb. 7, 2022
“And try not to make enough noise to waken the entire Abbey.”
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
