awake 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of awakenext
1
as in wakeful
not sleeping or able to sleep was awake until 3:00 a.m.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in alert
paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity awake to the possibility of trouble at the demonstration

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

awake

2 of 2

verb

ə-ˈwāk How to pronounce awake (audio)
1
as in to wake
to cause to stop sleeping awoke the boys for breakfast

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to awaken
to cease to be asleep at the sound of breaking glass she awoke with a start

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective awake contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of awake are alive, aware, cognizant, conscious, and sensible. While all these words mean "having knowledge of something," awake implies that one has become alive to something and is on the alert.

a country always awake to the threat of invasion

How do alive and sensible relate to one another, in the sense of awake?

Alive adds to sensible the implication of acute sensitivity to something.

alive to the thrill of danger

When is aware a more appropriate choice than awake?

The synonyms aware and awake are sometimes interchangeable, but aware implies vigilance in observing or alertness in drawing inferences from what one experiences.

aware of changes in climate

In what contexts can cognizant take the place of awake?

In some situations, the words cognizant and awake are roughly equivalent. However, cognizant implies having special or certain knowledge as from firsthand sources.

not fully cognizant of the facts

When would conscious be a good substitute for awake?

Although the words conscious and awake have much in common, conscious implies that one is focusing one's attention on something or is even preoccupied by it.

conscious that my heart was pounding

When is it sensible to use sensible instead of awake?

While the synonyms sensible and awake are close in meaning, sensible implies direct or intuitive perceiving especially of intangibles or of emotional states or qualities.

sensible of a teacher's influence

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of awake
Adjective
Green noise is a variation of white noise built from nature sounds like flowing rivers, rustling leaves and gentle rain, and it is often recommended for people kept awake by stress. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026 Researchers found that eating or drinking less than an hour before bed was linked to longer sleep, but it was also associated with more time spent awake during the night. — Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
Claire awoke the next day to a story about Campanis' comments in the newspaper. — CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026 Back in 2018, Tarantino reportedly awoke in the middle of the night to find two burglars inside his home. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for awake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awake
  1. wakeful
  2. alert
  3. wake
  4. awaken
  5. vigilant
  6. watchful
Adjective
  • These ripples are associated with spikes of activity in the prefrontal cortex, and scientists only observe them during periods of sleep or quiet, wakeful rest.
    — Sean Mccabe, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
  • In a previous university blog post, Majumdar compared this finding to the brain flushing out byproducts that build up during active, wakeful moments, allowing for a more restful night’s sleep.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of wakeful
Adjective
  • Rivera urged coastal residents to remain alert to changes in sea level, identify routes to higher ground and report unusual conditions to emergency authorities.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Threats to the Carolinas The private AccuWeather service urged Carolinians to remain alert to possible flash flooding, mudslides and tornadoes Sunday into Sunday night.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of alert
Verb
  • The medications work by blocking certain chemical messengers in the part of the brain that regulates body temperature and manages sleep/wake cycles, according to the guidance.
    — Shannon Firth, NPR, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Your body’s stress hormone peaks naturally about an hour after waking, and layering caffeine on top amplifies the spike.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of wake
Verb
  • Nobody wrote a Time magazine cover about the awakening consciousness of the autopilot.
    — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
  • But this morning an air of foreboding awakened me, and my little fishing barometer was already descending past the 29 mark.
    — Gerald R. Hunter, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of awaken
Adjective
  • At the first all-crew meeting, Kerry warns everyone to stay vigilant.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Both Rothrock and Raybould urged companies to be vigilant when hiring remote workers and to rely on tools like E-Verify, as well as require multiple forms of identification for new hires.
    — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of vigilant
Adjective
  • The sanctuary gave her space to socialize and play in a setting close to her natural habitat under the watchful eyes of adoptive gorilla mothers.
    — Elodie Toto, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • John has been groomed by his parents—under the watchful eye of the Guardians—to eventually replace the rule-defying and frequently reckless Hal, who lost both parents.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of watchful

Browse Nearby Words

awaits
awake
awaken
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Cite this Entry

“Awake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awake. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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