wakeful

American  

[weyk-fuhl] / ˈweɪk fəl /

adjective

1. unable to sleep; not sleeping; indisposed to sleep.

   Excitement made the children wakeful.

   Synonyms:

   restless, insomniac, awake, sleepless

   Antonyms:

   sleeping, asleep

2. characterized by absence of sleep.

   a wakeful night.

   Antonyms:

   sleepful

3. watchful; alert; vigilant.

   a wakeful foe.

   Synonyms:

   observant, wary

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wakeful British  

/ ˈweɪkfʊl /

adjective

1. unable or unwilling to sleep

2. sleepless

3. alert

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Other Word Forms

• unwakeful adjective
• unwakefully adverb
• unwakefulness noun
• wakefully adverb
• wakefulness noun

Etymology

Origin of wakeful

First recorded in 1540–50; wake ¹ + -ful

Example Sentences

Identifying processes in the brain that underlie sleep-deprived boosting of mood could lead to therapies that are less burdensome than enduring a wakeful night.

From Scientific American • Jul. 3, 2023

Could it be possible that Bunny was dreaming about a strange animal she encountered during her wakeful hours?

From Salon • Jul. 24, 2021

For all of his relaxation, I was that wakeful.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2018

Here, Mr. Scott, a wakeful drummer with an elastic funk attack, has organized a benefit to help his hometown recover from Hurricane Harvey.

From New York Times • Sep. 28, 2017

But the cat purring against his chest and the young dog curled at his back were wakeful and alert most of the remaining night; neither moved from his side.

From "The Incredible Journey" by Sheila Burnford