noun
Uncommon
wakes
Wakes (noun) means a traditional local holiday or festival, especially in northern England. Example: “The town closes its factories every summer for wakes week.”
noun
1
A traditional local holiday or festival, especially in northern England.
"The town closes its factories every summer for wakes week."
"My grandfather remembers going to the seaside every year during wakes."
"Mill workers saved all year so they could spend wakes away from home."
How to use wakes
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA regional British term for an annual community holiday period.
When to use it
Mostly historical or regional (northern England) usage, e.g. "wakes week."
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Synonyms
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Rhymes for wakes
See all rhymes for wakes →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.
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