Wake Meaning
/ˈweɪ̯k/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
verb(often followed by up) To stop sleeping.
verb(often followed by up) To make somebody stop sleeping; to rouse from sleep.
Sentence Examples
The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.
You failed to wake Harry up.
I always wake early in the summer.
CEFR Practice Quiz
After the loud noise outside, I began to ____ from my deep afternoon sleep.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I usually ____ up at seven o'clock every morning and go for a long walk in the park today.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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:
"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:
"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:
"Even Richard's crusade woke little interest in his island realm."
— 1880, John Richard Green, History of the English People:
"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:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
After the loud noise outside, I began to ____ from my deep afternoon sleep.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I usually ____ up at seven o'clock every morning and go for a long walk in the park today.