wakes
3 synonyms and 0 antonyms for wakes, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A traditional local holiday or festival, especially in northern England.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Frequently asked questions
What does “wakes” mean?
The word “wakes” means a traditional local holiday or festival, especially in northern England. In plain terms, a regional British term for an annual community holiday period.
How do you use “wakes” in a sentence?
Here is “wakes” used in a sentence: “The town closes its factories every summer for wakes week.”
What part of speech is “wakes”?
“Wakes” is a noun.
Is “wakes” a common word?
“Wakes” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between wakes and a wake for the dead?
In this sense, wakes refers to a traditional local holiday or festival, especially in northern England, and has no connection to the funeral custom of a "wake" held to honor someone who has died. The two words are spelled identically but describe entirely unrelated traditions.
Where does the tradition of wakes come from?
Wakes, in the festival sense, are especially associated with northern England, where towns traditionally held an annual local holiday or fair. These events often combined community celebration with a break from work or school.
Is wakes used differently in northern England than elsewhere?
Yes, wakes in the sense of a local festival or holiday is a regional term especially tied to northern England, and it may not be widely recognized with this meaning outside that area. Elsewhere, people are more likely to associate "wake" only with a gathering after a death.