verb
waken
WAY-kun/ˈweɪkən/
To become awake or cause someone to become awake.
A parent gently wakens a sleeping child with a light touch.
Etymology
Old English wæcnan linked waking with rising or coming into being. The verb's meaning extended from becoming awake oneself to causing someone else to leave sleep.
In context
called him, neither the rays of the sun beating on his face nor all the cheery notes of the birds welcoming the approach of day would have had power to waken him.
More examples
- I waken before sunrise most mornings.
- The ringing phone wakened us from a deep sleep.
- The familiar tune wakens memories of childhood.
Forms
waken · wakens · wakened · wakening