awake
uh-WAYK
Awake (adj) means not asleep; conscious. Example: “I was wide awake all night because of the noisy neighbours.”
adj
1
Not asleep; conscious.
"I was wide awake all night because of the noisy neighbours."
"The baby was still awake at midnight."
"She lay awake worrying about the exam."
verb
1
To stop sleeping, or to wake someone else up.
"A loud knock at the door awakened the whole household."
"He awoke to the sound of rain on the window."
How to use awake
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing conscious rather than asleep — or the act of waking up.
Common mistake
Awake is normally used after a linking verb ("stay awake"), while "awaken/wake" are the usual verbs for the action of waking someone.
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- awakes
- Past tense
- awoke, awaked, awoken, awaken
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I was wide _____ all night because of the noisy neighbours.
Etymology
From Middle English awake, a shortened form of awaken.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for awake
See all rhymes for 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.
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