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adjective Common

waking

WAY-kihng

Waking (adjective) means happening while someone is awake, as opposed to during sleep. Example: “He spent every waking hour studying for the exam.”

adjective
1
Happening while someone is awake, as opposed to during sleep.
"He spent every waking hour studying for the exam."
noun
1
The act or process of coming out of sleep.
"Waking was difficult after such a late night."

How to use waking

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishRelating to being awake, most often in the phrase "waking hours" or "waking life."

Common pairings
waking hours waking life waking moment

Word forms

more waking comparative, wakings plural, most waking superlative

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He spent every _____ hour studying for the exam.

Related words

Rhymes for waking

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Frequently asked questions

What does “waking” mean?

The word “waking” means happening while someone is awake, as opposed to during sleep. In plain terms, relating to being awake, most often in the phrase "waking hours" or "waking life.".

How do you pronounce “waking”?

“Waking” is pronounced WAY-kihng (/ˈweɪkɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “waking” in a sentence?

Here is “waking” used in a sentence: “He spent every waking hour studying for the exam.”

What part of speech is “waking”?

Depending on how it is used, “waking” can be an adjective and a noun.

Is “waking” a common word?

“Waking” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “waking” have?

“Waking” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: happening while someone is awake, as opposed to during sleep.

What is the difference between your waking hours and sleeping hours?

Your waking hours are the parts of the day when you are awake and conscious, as opposed to the time spent asleep. As an adjective, 'waking' describes anything that happens while you are awake, such as waking thoughts or waking life.

What is the difference between 'waking' and 'awakening'?

'Waking' most often describes something happening while you are awake, or the plain act of coming out of sleep. 'Awakening' tends to sound more formal or figurative, frequently referring to a sudden realisation or a rousing to awareness.

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