awakening
noun
awak·en·ing
ə-ˈwāk-niŋ 
ə-ˈwā-kə-
plural awakenings
1
: a rousing from sleep
The night terror is an abrupt awakening early in the night, most often within the first hour or two of sleep …—
Franklin Galvin et al.
Franklin Galvin et al.2
a
: a rousing from inactivity or indifference
… one of the primary branches of yoga … prescribes various practices to assist the yogi in the gradual awakening of the heart.—James Bailey
James Bailey
b
: a revival of interest in something (such as religion)
Russian Jews themselves experienced a cultural and political awakening after Israel's victory, some openly challenging their government's ban on religious and Hebrew training.—Jonathan D. Sarna
Jonathan D. Sarna3
: a coming into awareness
Like his discovery of literature, this intimacy becomes an awakening to the possibilities of life.—Morris Dickstein
Morris DicksteinExamples of awakening in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Daedone wanted to savor decrescendo, too, as well as stasis, stupor, spiritual awakening, and whatever other sensations the stroke brought out.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
From here, the stage is set for Cherry’s awakening, masterminded with wide-eyed economy by Corrin’s gnomic Hero.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
There all these think piece about Chessy being a lesbian awakening for a lot of women.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Not long after the accident, Thurlow had a religious awakening.
—Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for awakening
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Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
From here, the stage is set for Cherry’s awakening, masterminded with wide-eyed economy by Corrin’s gnomic Hero.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
There all these think piece about Chessy being a lesbian awakening for a lot of women.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Not long after the accident, Thurlow had a religious awakening.
—Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for awakening
Cite this Entry
“Awakening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/awakening. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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