Standard Lemma guide

waken

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈweɪkən/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪkən
  • CMU ARPABET: W EY1 K AH0 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To wake or rouse from sleep.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: disturb

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To awaken; to cease to sleep; to be awakened; to stir.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

stop sleeping

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She woke up to the sound of the alarm clock

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: wake up, awake, arouse, awaken, wake, come alive

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change state, turn

4

verb

Meaning 4

cause to become awake or conscious

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He was roused by the drunken men in the street
  • Please wake me at 6 AM.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: awaken, wake, rouse, wake up, arouse

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

Narrower terms: reawaken, bring to, bring back, bring round, bring around, call

History

Etymology

From Middle English waknen, from Old English wæcnan, from Proto-Germanic *waknaną.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Esperanto: veki — rouse from sleep
  • Irish: múscail — rouse from sleep