a·wak·en

(ə-wā′kən)

v. a·wak·ened, a·wak·en·ing, a·wak·ens

v.intr.

1. To wake up: I awakened at 6:00 am.

2. To become aware of something: He finally awakened to the fact that he was wrong.

v.tr.

1. To cause to wake up: A barking dog awakened me during the night.

2. To cause (someone) to become aware; alert or enlighten: The news awakened her to the truth.

3. To stir up or produce (a memory or feeling, for example): Her new job awakened in her a sense of responsibility. See Usage Note at wake¹.

[Middle English awakenen, from Old English āwæcnian : ā-, on, up; see a-² + wæcnian, to waken; see waken.]

a·wak′en·er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adj.	1.	awakened - aroused or activated; "an awakened interest in ballet" unawakened - not aroused or activated; "unawakened emotions"
	2.	awakened - (somewhat formal) having been waked up; "the awakened baby began to cry" awake - not in a state of sleep; completely conscious; "lay awake thinking about his new job"; "still not fully awake"

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References in classic literature

Awakened, and even with a few moments of life remaining, the giant could literally tear his assailant to pieces should he choose, and the Belgian had no doubt but that Tarzan would so choose.

It was the beating of the beast's tail against the reeds which awakened Tarzan.

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Japan herself, when she so suddenly awakened, had astounded the world.

The West had awakened Japan, and, as Japan had then requited the West, Japan was not requited by China.

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And now Mrs Waters (for we must confess she was in the same bed), being, I suppose, awakened from her sleep, and seeing two men fighting in her bedchamber, began to scream in the most violent manner, crying out murder!

Jones treated this menace with much contempt; and Mr Maclachlan answered, "Indeed, Mr Fitzpatrick, you may be ashamed of your own self, to disturb people at this time of night; if all the people in the inn were not asleep, you would have awakened them as you have me.

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The Dog in a rage, being awakened from its slumber, stood up and barked at the Ox, and whenever it came near attempted to bite it.

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After supper he lay down on a sofa without undressing, and was awakened soon after midnight by a courier bringing him a letter from Kutuzov.

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Like a bitterly angry croaking ran the sound through the long corridors when the leaves of the gate opened: ungraciously did this bird cry, unwillingly was it awakened.

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In truth, he had awakened that morning from a sleep deep as annihilation; and during those first few moments in which the brain, like a Samson shaking himself, is trying its strength, he had some dim notion of an unusual nocturnal proceeding.

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The woodman and his wife, being awakened by the noise, peeped through a crack in the door; but when they saw a wolf was there, you may well suppose that they were sadly frightened; and the woodman ran for his axe, and gave his wife a scythe.

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With this significant remark the Supreme Gobbler left him, and thenceforward the Pious Person dreamed of himself as white meat and dark until rudely awakened by decapitation.

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