Dictionary

wake en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈweːk/ monophthongization
• [ˈwæ̝ɪ̯k] (Australia, New-Zealand)
• [ˈweɪ̯k]
• /ˈwæɪ̯k/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• /ˈweɪ̯k/
• (General-American) audio

Etymology

A merger of two verbs of related/similar form and meaning: * Middle English waken, Old English wacan, from Proto-West Germanic *wakan, from Proto-Germanic *wakaną. * Middle English wakien, Old English wacian, from Proto-West Germanic *wakēn, from Proto-Germanic *wakāną.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) (often followed by up) To stop sleeping.
   • How long I slept I cannot tell, for I had nothing to guide me to the time, but woke at length, and found myself still in darkness. [1898], J[ohn] Meade Falkner, Moonfleet, London; Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934, →OCLC:
   • I woke up at four o'clock this morning.
2. (transitive) (often followed by up) To make somebody stop sleeping; to rouse from sleep.
   • And the Angell that talked with me, came againe and waked me, […] 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Zechariah 4:1:
   • The neighbour's car alarm woke me from a strange dream.
3. (figuratively, transitive) To put in motion or action; to arouse; to excite.
   • Even Richard's crusade woke little interest in his island realm. 1880, John Richard Green, History of the English People:
   • Not for my life, leſt fierce remembrance wake My ſudden rage to tear thee joint by joint. 1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 59:
4. (figuratively, intransitive) To be excited or roused up; to be stirred up from a dormant, torpid, or inactive state; to be active.
   • Then wake, my soul, to high desires, And earlier light thine altar fires: […] 1827, [John Keble], “Easter Day”, in The Christian Year: Thoughts in Verse for the Sundays and Holydays throughout the Year, volume I, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] [B]y W. Baxter, for J. Parker; and C[harles] and J[ohn] Rivington, […], →OCLC, page 146:
   • and gentle Aires due at thir hour To fan the Earth now wak'd, 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 93–94:
5. To watch, or sit up with, at night, as a dead body.
   • Dougal said that being alone with the dead on that floor of the tower (for naebody cared to wake Sir Robert Redgauntlet like another corpse) he had never daured^([sic]) to answer the call, but that now his conscience checked him for neglecting his duty; […] 1824, Sir Walter Scott, Redgauntlet:
6. To be or remain awake; not to sleep.
   • The father waketh for the daughter when no man knoweth, and the care for her taketh away sleepe; 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ecclesiasticus 42:9:
   • , Book II, Chapter I I cannot think any time, waking or sleeping, without being sensible of it.
   • And oft though wiſdom wake, ſuspicion ſleeps At wiſdoms Gate, 1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 696–697:
7. (obsolete) To be alert; to keep watch
   • Command unto the guards that they diligently wake.
8. (obsolete) To sit up late for festive purposes; to hold a night revel.
   • The king doth wake to-night, and takes his rouse, Keeps wassail, and the swaggering upspring reels. c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:

Forms

Antonyms

fall asleep · sleep

Deriveds

forwake · wakespan · wake up one day · wakeman · wake the dead · wakeable · bewake · wakerobin · wakelock · outwake · wakesome · waker · wake boat · waketime · rewake · wakeathon · wakeover · non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder · wakeful · wake and bake · wakeless · wake up

Hyponyms

come around · come to · disentrance · start · come to one's senses · come round · get up with the chickens

Relateds

wakefulness · reveille · lark · pull an all-nighter · enliven · all-nighter · yawn · rise and shine · wacken · show a leg · owl

Synonyms

kindle · yerk · exagitate · stir · cheer · evoke · startle · inflame · rouse · engender · arise · awaken · urge · light a fire under · gin up · whip up · electrify · instigate · get up · quicken · galvanize · tempt · enkindle · suscitate · goose · move · egg on · motivate · bewake · start · watch · prompt · cry · arouse · rouse · obligate · enflame · awake · vitalise · goad · wake up · bring about · whet · promote · keep watch · warm the blood · thrill · sting · drive · rouse · get up · impel · animate · uprouse · watch · stay up · waken · stir · fire · awaken · stimulate · arouse · encourage · spur on · wake up · invigilate · work up · spark off · awaken · abet · roust · whet · stir up · sharpen · send · awaken · stoke · incite · rouse · exhilarate · watch · fillip · ignite · fire the blood · actuate · spur · rise · rouse · grill · lash · knock up · bring round · push · wind up · wake · set fire to · stir · awaken · wake · fuel · abraid · oblige · exsuscitate · quicken · set off · inflame · waken · stir the blood · excite · excite · rouse · send · ignite · set on fire · provoke · invoke · foment · intoxicate · motive · wake · awake · draw · enthrill · induce · bewake

Translations (177)

ro deștepta (to stop sleeping) · cs vzbudit se (to stop sleeping) · fr se réveiller (to stop sleeping) · pl obudzić (to make somebody stop sleeping) · sw kuamka (to stop sleeping) · oc se desrevelhar (to stop sleeping) · gd dùisg (to stop sleeping) · ofs wakia (to make somebody stop sleeping) · tr uyandırmak (to make somebody stop sleeping) · he הקיץ (to stop sleeping) · ga dúisigh (to make somebody stop sleeping) · no vekke (to make somebody stop sleeping) · sv väcka (to make somebody stop sleeping) · sc abbeltudare (to stop sleeping) · ta எழுப்பு (to make somebody stop sleeping) · is vekja (to make somebody stop sleeping) · he התעורר (to stop sleeping) · bo སད (to stop sleeping) · sga do·fíuschi (to make somebody stop sleeping) · ja 目覚める (to stop sleeping) · mk се разбудува (to stop sleeping) · xal серх (to stop sleeping) · el ξυπνώ (to make somebody stop sleeping) · sv vakna (to stop sleeping) · tr uyanmak (to stop sleeping) · es despertar (to stop sleeping) · ca despertar-se (to stop sleeping) · pt acordar (to stop sleeping) · sc ischidare (to make somebody stop sleeping) · fi herätä (to stop sleeping) · la expergō (to make somebody stop sleeping) · lb erwächen (to stop sleeping) · ar أَيْقَظَ (to make somebody stop sleeping) · tl gisingin (to make somebody stop sleeping) · fy wekje (to make somebody stop sleeping) · bua һэрихэ (to stop sleeping) · ru буди́ть (to make somebody stop sleeping) · de aufwachen (to stop sleeping) · it svegliare (to make somebody stop sleeping) · nl wakker worden (to stop sleeping) · ro deștepta (to make somebody stop sleeping) · tet fanun (to make somebody stop sleeping) · sa जागर्ति (to make somebody stop sleeping) · tl gumising (to stop sleeping) · nl wekken (to make somebody stop sleeping) · th ปลุก (to make somebody stop sleeping) · pl obudzić się (to stop sleeping) · kjh усхурарға (to make somebody stop sleeping) · uk буди́ти (to make somebody stop sleeping) · ro trezi (to make somebody stop sleeping) · hu felkel (to stop sleeping) · ota اویارمق (to make somebody stop sleeping) · ady къэущын (to make somebody stop sleeping) · pl zbudzić się (to stop sleeping) · nb våkne (to stop sleeping) · ga dúisigh (to stop sleeping) · it risvegliarsi (to stop sleeping) · ru разбуди́ть (to make somebody stop sleeping) · acw صَحَّى (to make somebody stop sleeping) · te నిద్ర ఆపుట (to make somebody stop sleeping) · tg бедор шудан (to stop sleeping) · bg събуждам (to make somebody stop sleeping) · hy արթնացնել (to make somebody stop sleeping) · kbd къэушын (to stop sleeping) · pl budzić się (to stop sleeping) · ca despertar (to make somebody stop sleeping) · ga múscail (to stop sleeping) · ja 目が覚める (to stop sleeping) · hu felébred (to stop sleeping) · es despertarse (to stop sleeping) · acw قام (to stop sleeping) · nn vakna (to stop sleeping) · mn сэрэх (to stop sleeping) · cs probudit se (to stop sleeping) · la evigilo (to stop sleeping) · la evigilor (to stop sleeping) · br dihuniñ (to make somebody stop sleeping) · is vakna (to stop sleeping) · de wecken (to make somebody stop sleeping) · hu felébreszt (to make somebody stop sleeping) · id bangun (to stop sleeping) · br dihuniñ (to stop sleeping) · mk се разбуди (to stop sleeping) · grc ἐγείρομαι (to stop sleeping) · gl espertar (to stop sleeping) · liv virgõ (to stop sleeping) · tr kaldırmak (to make somebody stop sleeping) · te నిద్రలేపుట (to stop sleeping) · hu felkelt (to make somebody stop sleeping) · pl zbudzić (to make somebody stop sleeping) · hy զարթնել (to stop sleeping) · pl budzić (to make somebody stop sleeping) · bg събуждам се (to stop sleeping) · el ξυπνάω (to make somebody stop sleeping) · fo vekja (to make somebody stop sleeping) · ja 起こす (to make somebody stop sleeping) · ko 을 깨우다 (to make somebody stop sleeping) · alt ойгонор (to stop sleeping) · oc se revelhar (to stop sleeping) · otk 𐰆𐰑𐰍𐰆𐰺 (to make somebody stop sleeping) · lb erwächen (to make somebody stop sleeping) · ru просну́ться (to stop sleeping) · om dammaqsuu (to make somebody stop sleeping) · he נעור (to stop sleeping) · mnc ᡤᡝᡨᡝᠮᠪᡳ (to make somebody stop sleeping) · el ξυπνώ (to stop sleeping) · sq zgjim (to stop sleeping) · sk zobudiť sa (to stop sleeping) · sk zobudiť (to make somebody stop sleeping) · hy արթնանալ (to stop sleeping) · eo vekiĝi (to stop sleeping) · lv mosties (to stop sleeping) · fr réveiller (to make somebody stop sleeping) · sk budiť sa (to stop sleeping) · gl acordar (to stop sleeping) · fi herättää (to make somebody stop sleeping) · ko 일어나다 (to stop sleeping) · eu esnatu (to make somebody stop sleeping) · ru пробужда́ться (to stop sleeping) · hu ébred (to stop sleeping) · qu rikch'ay (to stop sleeping) · de aufwecken (to make somebody stop sleeping) · hy զարթեցնել (to make somebody stop sleeping) · uk пробу́джуватися (to stop sleeping) · acw صحي (to stop sleeping) · eo veki (to make somebody stop sleeping) · eu esnatu (to stop sleeping) · qu richkay (to stop sleeping) · cy dihuno (to make somebody stop sleeping) · cs vzbudit (to make somebody stop sleeping) · ro trezi (to stop sleeping) · nl wakker maken (to make somebody stop sleeping) · cy dihuno (to stop sleeping) · uk прокида́тися (to stop sleeping) · sw kuamsha (to make somebody stop sleeping) · ga múscail (to make somebody stop sleeping) · sa बुध्यते (to stop sleeping) · la e somno excitare (to make somebody stop sleeping) · qu llikchay (to stop sleeping) · de erwachen (to stop sleeping) · acw قَوَّم (to make somebody stop sleeping) · tg бедор кардан (to make somebody stop sleeping) · it svegliarsi (to stop sleeping) · pt acordar (to make somebody stop sleeping) · om dammaquu (to stop sleeping) · ms bangun (to make somebody stop sleeping) · vi đánh thức (to make somebody stop sleeping) · th ปลุก (to stop sleeping) · vi thức dậy (to stop sleeping) · gl espertar (to make somebody stop sleeping) · ru пробуди́ться (to stop sleeping) · fo vakna (to stop sleeping) · mk се буди (to stop sleeping) · nl ontwaken (to stop sleeping) · evn сэрив- (to make somebody stop sleeping) · grc ἐγείρω (to make somebody stop sleeping) · ja 起きる (to stop sleeping) · aii ܡܲܪܥܸܫ (to make somebody stop sleeping) · da vågne (to stop sleeping) · es recordar (to stop sleeping) · et ärkama (to stop sleeping) · ar اِسْتَيْقَظَ (to stop sleeping) · ru просыпа́ться (to stop sleeping) · qu riwakuy (to stop sleeping) · aln njeh (to stop sleeping) · pl przebudzić się (to stop sleeping) · cs probudit (to make somebody stop sleeping) · da vække (to make somebody stop sleeping) · he העיר (to make somebody stop sleeping) · mn сэрээх (to make somebody stop sleeping) · el ξυπνάω (to stop sleeping) · ota اویانمق (to stop sleeping) · aii ܪܵܥܹܫ (to stop sleeping) · tyv оттур (to stop sleeping) · sga do·fíuschi (to stop sleeping) · la expergiscor (to stop sleeping) · es despertar (to make somebody stop sleeping)

wake en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ˈweːk/ monophthongization
• [ˈwæ̝ɪ̯k] (Australia, New-Zealand)
• [ˈweɪ̯k]
• /ˈwæɪ̯k/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• /ˈweɪ̯k/
• (General-American) audio

Etymology

From Middle English wake, from Old English wacu, from Proto-Germanic *wakō, related to the verb *wakjaną.

Meanings

1. A period after a person's death before or after the body is buried, cremated, etc.; in some cultures accompanied by a party or collectively sorting through the deceased's personal effects.
   • Where any person has died whilst being, or suspected of being, a case or carrier or contact of an infectious disease, the Director may by order prohibit the conduct of a wake over the body of that person or impose such conditions as he thinks fit on the conduct of such wake […] 2003, Section 14(1)(a), Infectious Diseases Act (Cap. 137, R. Ed. 2003)
2. The state of forbearing sleep, especially for solemn or festive purposes; a vigil.
   • The wood nymphs, deckt with daises trim, Their merry wakes and pastimes keep. 1634 October 9 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), [John Milton], edited by H[enry] Lawes, A Maske Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634: […] [Comus], London: […] [Augustine Matthews] for Hvmphrey Robinson, […], published 1637, →OCLC; reprinted as Comus: […] (Dodd, Mead & Company’s Facsimile Reprints of Rare Books; Literature Series; no. I), New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1903, →OCLC:
   • The warlike wakes continued all the night, And funeral games played at new returning light. 1697, Virgil, “Palamon and Arcite”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
3. (Church-of-England, historical) A yearly parish festival formerly held in commemoration of the dedication of a church. Originally, prayers were said on the evening preceding, and hymns were sung during the night, in the church; subsequently, these vigils were discontinued, and the day itself, often with succeeding days, was occupied in rural pastimes and exercises, attended by eating and drinking.
   • And every village smokes at wakes with lusty cheer. 1612, Michael Drayton, “(please specify the chapter)”, in [John Selden], editor, Poly-Olbion. Or A Chorographicall Description of Tracts, Riuers, Mountaines, Forests, and Other Parts of this Renowned Isle of Great Britaine, […], London: […] [Humphrey Lownes] for M[athew] Lownes; I[ohn] Browne; I[ohn] Helme; I[ohn] Busbie, →OCLC:
   • 1523–1525, Jean Froissart, John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners (translator), Froissart's Chronicles Great solemnities were made in all churches, and great fairs and wakes throughout all England.
4. (obsolete, often, poetic) The act of waking, or state of being awake.
   • Making such difference 'twixt wake and sleep. c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
   • After a few weeks of age, longer periods of sleep and wake are seen […] 2013, William H. Moorcroft, Understanding Sleep and Dreaming, page 27:
   • Singing her flatteries to my morning wake. 1677 (first performance), John Dryden, All for Love: Or, The World Well Lost. A Tragedy, […], [London]: […] Tho[mas] Newcomb, for Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC, (please specify the page number):
5. (collective) A group of vultures or buzzards.
   • Growing up out in the country past University Lake, we’d frequently see a wake of vultures along the side of the road, in a pasture and sometimes even in the woods, quietly picking away at something. 2025 September 1, Margot Lester, “Why Vultures Deserve a Better Reputation”, in Chapelboro.com, archived from the original on 26 Jul 2026:
   • Ricky Lanusse (23 July 2024), “How The Collapse of India’s Vultures Led to Half a Million Human Deaths”, in Medium.com, archived from the original on 26 Jul 2026: “A wake of vultures — possibly a mix of Himalayan Griffons and Indian Vultures — feed on a buffalo in Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.”
   • New at the Houston Zoo: A scary, misunderstood wake of vultures 2021 July 7, Jay R. Jordan, “New at the Houston Zoo: A scary, misunderstood wake of vultures”, in Chron.com, archived from the original on 26 Jul 2026:

Forms

Deriveds

wake-on-LAN · lich-wake · wake-sleep algorithm · wake word

Relateds

shivah · shiva · arvel · arval

Translations (31)

gl velorio (period after death) · ko 경야 (period after death) · de Totenwache (period after death) · es velorio (period after death) · fr veillée funèbre (period after death) · ca vetllada (period after death) · ro priveghi (period after death) · ga faire (period after death) · la silicernium (period after death) · it veglia (period after death) · nl dodenwake (period after death) · pt velório (period after death) · nl wake (period after death) · hu virrasztás (period after death) · lt šermenys (period after death) · ja 通夜 (period after death) · bg бдение (period after death) · sv vaka (period after death) · fi vainajan valvojaiset (period after death) · eo funebra vigilo (period after death) · uk по́минки (period after death) · oc velhada (period after death) · cy gwylnos (period after death) · ru поми́нки (period after death) · fo vøka (period after death) · cmn 守夜 (period after death) · pl przy zwłokach (period after death) · fi ruumiinvalvojaiset (period after death) · ga tórramh (period after death) · tl lamay (period after death) · pl czuwanie (period after death)

wake en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• /ˈweːk/ monophthongization
• [ˈwæ̝ɪ̯k] (Australia, New-Zealand)
• [ˈweɪ̯k]
• /ˈwæɪ̯k/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• /ˈweɪ̯k/
• (General-American) audio

Etymology

Probably from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch wake, from or akin to Old Norse vǫk (“a hole in the ice”) ( > Danish våge, Icelandic vök), from Proto-Germanic *wakwō (“wetness”), from Proto-Indo-European *wegʷ- (“moist, wet”).

Meanings

1. The path left behind a ship on the surface of the water.
2. The disturbance which follows an object, person or animal moving through water.
3. The turbulent air left behind a flying aircraft.
4. (figuratively) The area behind a moving person or object.
   • Alex Song launched a long ball forward from the back and the winger took it down nicely on his chest. He cut across the penalty area from the right and after one of the three defenders in his wake failed to make a meaningful clearance, the Oxlade-Chamberlain was able to dispatch a low left-footed finish into the far corner. 2011 September 28, Tom Rostance, “Arsenal 2 - 1 Olympiakos”, in BBC Sport:
   • This effect followed immediately in the wake of his earliest exertions. 1826, Thomas De Quincey, “Lessing”, in Blackwood's Magazine:
   • It was all of a piece. If you believed in capitalism, you had to attack science, because science had revealed the hazards that capitalism had brought in its wake. 2010, Naomi Oreskes, Erik M. Conway, chapter 5, in Merchants of Doubt:
   • The player left the rest of the field trailing in her wake.
   • Several humbler persons […] formed quite a procession in the dusty wake of his chariot wheels. 1857–1859, W[illiam] M[akepeace] Thackeray, The Virginians. A Tale of the Last Century, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1858–1859, →OCLC:
5. The perturbation behind a body moving through a fluid.

Forms

Deriveds

wakesurfer · wakefield · wakeskater · moonwake · wakeboarding · wakeboard · wake turbulence · wakesurfing · wake flow · wakelet · wake loss · Kelvin wake pattern · wakesurf · wakeskating · wakeskate · wake vortex

Relateds

wakes · watch · wait · in the wake of

Translations (43)

he שֹׁבֶל (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · es estela (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · bg килватер (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · ga stáid (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · is slóð (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · sv kölvatten (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · eu lorratz (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · mi kōriporipo (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · fi vana (turbulent air left behind a flying aircraft) · pl smuga kondensacyjna (turbulent air left behind a flying aircraft) · eo poststrio (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · is kjölfar (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · gl ronsel (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · vo kuilavat (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · hu farvíz (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · mi kōrinorino (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · nl kielzog (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · da kølvand (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · eu ubera (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · taa tot (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · it turbolenza (turbulent air left behind a flying aircraft) · nb kjølvann (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · cmn 尾流 (turbulent air left behind a flying aircraft) · eo sulko (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · tfn kʼtala (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · de Nachlauf (turbulent air left behind a flying aircraft) · fi vanavesi (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · fi peräaalto (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · it scia (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · pt sulco (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · fr sillage (turbulent air left behind a flying aircraft) · gd uisge-stiùireach (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · fr sillage (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · es estela (turbulent air left behind a flying aircraft) · pl kilwater (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · it strascico (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · ru кильва́тер (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · pt esteira (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · uk кільва́тер (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · ja 航跡 (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · ro siaj (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · ga marbhshruth (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water) · de Kielwasser (path left behind a ship on the surface of the water)