wake
verb (used without object)
to become roused from sleep; awake; awaken; waken (often followed byup ).
was waking
-
past progressiveof wake.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
"I was waking up to darkness and cold. It was quite a lonely existence because all my friends were working so hard," he says.
From BBC ● Dec. 28, 2025
The next thing he remembers that day last summer was waking up in a hospital bed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2025
He continued dance-walking down the long city block, the time-traveling Black town crier was waking up all those who would listen.
From Salon ● Jun. 10, 2025
In Ghana, I was waking up at 05:00 to sweep the courtyard and wash my uncle's often muddy pick-up truck and my aunt's car.
From BBC ● Mar. 15, 2025
In the operating room I was given anesthesia, and the next thing I recalled was waking up in a room with the doctor present.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
