adjective
Common
waking
WAY-kihng
Waking (adjective) means happening while someone is awake, as opposed to during sleep. Example: “The new parents worried about their baby during every waking moment.”
adjective
1
Happening while someone is awake, as opposed to during sleep.
"The new parents worried about their baby during every waking moment."
"Her waking hours were filled with work and very little rest."
"He spent every waking hour studying for the exam."
noun
1
The act or process of coming out of sleep.
"Waking early in summer is easy because the sun rises so soon."
"Slow waking is normal for me, so I always set two alarms."
"Waking was difficult after such a late night."
How to use waking
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to being awake, most often in the phrase "waking hours" or "waking life."
Common pairings
waking hours
waking life
waking moment
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Word forms
- Plural
- wakings
- Comparative
- more waking
- Superlative
- most waking
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The new parents worried about their baby during every _____ moment.
Related words
Rhymes for waking
See all rhymes for waking →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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