awake
14 synonyms and 2 antonyms for awake, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Not asleep; conscious.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English awake, a shortened form of awaken.
Full origin of awake →Frequently asked questions
What does “awake” mean?
The word “awake” means not asleep; conscious. In plain terms, being conscious rather than asleep — or the act of waking up.
How do you pronounce “awake”?
“Awake” is pronounced uh-WAYK (/əˈweɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “awake” in a sentence?
Here is “awake” used in a sentence: “The baby was still awake at midnight.”
What is another word for “awake”?
Words with a similar meaning to “awake” include alert, caffeinated, conscious, invigorated, invigorating and lively.
What is the opposite of “awake”?
The opposite of “awake” — its antonyms — are asleep and unconscious.
What part of speech is “awake”?
Depending on how it is used, “awake” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “awake” come from?
The word “awake” comes from Middle English. From Middle English awake, a shortened form of awaken.
Is “awake” a common word?
“Awake” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between awake and wake?
"Awake" is most often an adjective meaning not asleep ("I was awake all night"), though it can also be a verb. "Wake" is the everyday verb for stopping sleeping or rousing someone ("wake me at seven"), and it is far more common than the verb use of "awake".
What is the difference between awake and awaken?
Both can act as verbs meaning to stop sleeping or to rouse someone, but "awaken" sounds more formal or literary. "Awake" is also commonly used as an adjective meaning conscious, whereas "awaken" is only a verb.
What is the past tense of awake?
The verb "awake" is irregular: the simple past is usually "awoke" and the past participle is "awoken" ("I awoke early"; "I had awoken"). The regular forms "awaked" exist but sound old-fashioned and are rarely used today.
What is the difference between awake and aware?
"Awake" means not asleep or conscious in the physical sense, while "aware" means having knowledge or perception of something. You can be awake without being aware of a particular fact, and the two words are not interchangeable.