adj Common

woke

wohk

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Woke (adj) means Aware of and actively concerned about social injustice, especially around race. Example: “The brand tried to seem woke with its new ad campaign.”

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

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: wokes
Comparative: more woke, woker
Superlative: most woke, wokest

Test yourself on “woke” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

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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.

· First attested 1930

Class of 1930 woke joined the language around 1930.

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Synonyms

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politically aware progressive enlightened socially conscious

Related words

progress advanced liberal progressive socialist educated evolutionary initiate

Rhymes for woke

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

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Frequently asked questions

What does “woke” mean?

The word “woke” means aware of and actively concerned about social injustice, especially around race. In plain terms, alert to social injustice — used approvingly by some and as an insult by others, depending on who is speaking.

How do you pronounce “woke”?

“Woke” is pronounced wohk (/woʊk/ in IPA).

How do you use “woke” in a sentence?

Here is “woke” used in a sentence: “The brand tried to seem woke with its new ad campaign.”

What part of speech is “woke”?

“Woke” is an adjective.

Where does the word “woke” come from?

The word “woke” dates back to around 1930.

Is “woke” a common word?

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

How many meanings does “woke” have?

“Woke” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: aware of and actively concerned about social injustice, especially around race.

Why does 'woke' have both a positive and a negative meaning?

'Woke' originally described being aware of and actively concerned about social injustice, especially around race, and was used approvingly. Over time it was also taken up critically to describe someone or something seen as overly focused on political correctness or identity politics, so its tone now depends heavily on who is using it.

Is 'woke' also the past tense of 'wake'?

Yes, and the two are unrelated in meaning. 'Woke' is the standard past tense of the verb 'wake', as in 'I woke up early', but as a modern adjective it describes awareness of, or perceived over-concern with, social injustice.

Is 'woke' formal or informal?

'Woke' is informal and belongs to everyday speech, journalism, and social media rather than formal writing. Because its meaning can be either approving or critical, it is worth using with care, since readers may interpret it very differently.

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