verb
waken
WAY-kuhn
Waken (verb) means to wake up, or to cause someone to wake up. Example: “The alarm clock wakened the whole house.”
verb
1
To wake up, or to cause someone to wake up.
"The alarm clock wakened the whole house."
"She wakened slowly, unsure what day it was."
How to use waken
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA slightly more formal or literary way of saying "wake."
When to use it
Less common in everyday speech than "wake up" — often found in literature.
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- wakens
- Past tense
- wakened
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The alarm clock _____ the whole house.
Etymology
Came into English from Middle English waknen, from Old English wæcnan, from Proto-Germanic *waknaną.
Related words
Rhymes for waken
See all rhymes for waken →Frequently asked questions
What does “waken” mean?
The word “waken” means to wake up, or to cause someone to wake up. In plain terms, a slightly more formal or literary way of saying "wake.".
How do you pronounce “waken”?
“Waken” is pronounced WAY-kuhn (/ˈweɪkən/ in IPA).
How do you use “waken” in a sentence?
Here is “waken” used in a sentence: “The alarm clock wakened the whole house.”
What part of speech is “waken”?
“Waken” is a verb.
