in the wake of

phrase

1
: close behind and in the same path of travel
… missionaries arrived in the wake of conquistadors and soldiers …—Sabine MacCormack
2
: as a result of : as a consequence of
… power vacuums left in the wake of the Second World War.—Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

Examples of in the wake of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For the best views look 40-90 degrees away from the radiant, where the glowing trains left in the wake of the fast-moving meteors will be at their longest. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 17 Oct. 2026 While officials insist the demolitions are a non-negotiable step toward revitalizing the corridor along Old National Highway, the families and owners left in the wake of the bulldozers say true recovery remains a distant promise. — La'tasha Givens, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 Named after the brothers’ maternal grandmother, born enslaved, the Brockman Gallery was a flourishing, ongoing act of self-determination in the wake of the 1965 Watts Rebellion. — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 At least two lawsuits were filed against the company in the wake of Hunterbrook's analysis. — Alex Sherman, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for in the wake of

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of in the wake of was circa 1547

Rhymes for in the wake of

See All Rhymes for in the wake of

Browse Nearby Words

in the vicinity of
in the wake of
in the way of
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“In the wake of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20wake%20of. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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