adj

woke

wohk

adj

Aware of and actively concerned about social injustice, especially around race.

"The brand tried to seem woke with its new ad campaign."

Used critically to describe someone or something seen as overly focused on political correctness or identity politics.

"Critics dismissed the reboot as a woke rewrite of the original film."

How to Use Woke

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAlert to social injustice — used approvingly by some and as an insult by others, depending on who is speaking.

When to use it

Highly politically charged; the same word can be a compliment or a put-down depending on the speaker's stance.

Common pairings

woke culture go woke stay woke

Word Forms

more woke comparative, woker comparative, wokes plural, most woke superlative, wokest superlative

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The brand tried to seem _____ with its new ad campaign.

Etymology

Originally the informal past tense of "wake" ("I woke up"). The social-justice sense dates back to the 1930s among Black American speakers, then spread widely online in the 2010s — where it also picked up a critical, mocking use.

Rhymes for woke

coke poke joke toke yoke hoke broke spoke smoke bloke stoke evoke

See all rhymes for woke →