How to Use wake-up in a Sentence

wake-up

1 of 2 adjective
Definition of wake-upnext
  • The 2003 heat wave was a wake-up call, researchers said.
    — Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 10 July 2023
  • The wake-up call applies to both sides, Schreibel said.
    — David Sivak, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 15 July 2024
  • At the same time, take this as a cold splash of water and a wake-up call.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
  • The past six months have been a wake-up call, Seligson says.
    — David Oliver, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
  • In the end, a 2:00 am wake-up call was required to record the final hours.
    — Adam Trenkamp, Outside Online, 10 Oct. 2024
  • Keep in Mind: The soft wake-up sounds may not be enough for heavy sleepers.
    — Deanne Revel, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Mar. 2023
  • For Khamenei—and many in his inner circle—the protests served as a wake-up call.
    — Vali Nasr, Foreign Affairs, 29 July 2024
  • My son’s catch-and-release treasure hunt was a wake-up call for me—the youth have no love for the coin of the realm.
    — Wes Moss, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
  • On sale for a mere $16, add the Lip Sleeping Mask to your cart for buttery, smooth lips on the wake-up.
    — Nerisha Penrose, ELLE, 12 July 2023
  • For many on the east coast of North America, the orange skies of June were a wake-up call.
    — Omar Mouallem, WIRED, 23 Aug. 2023
  • The journey has been pretty chill and easy, despite a 4 a.m. wake-up.
    — Jessica Ritz, Travel + Leisure, 28 Apr. 2023
  • Jokic agreed with Malone and said the team needed a wake-up call.
    — Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 26 Nov. 2024
  • Will the significance of the Met poaching Sharon be a wake-up call for L.A.?
    — Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2024
  • But what is happening with their bonds should be a wake-up call.
    — Telis Demos, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2023
  • Staff are making wake-up calls so that students get out of bed on time.
    — Lauren Lumpkin, Washington Post, 20 Dec. 2023
  • The death of Olympian Tori Bowie should be yet another wake-up call that this is a crisis.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 26 June 2023
  • Here's a fresh twist on a couple of classic brunch favorites and a wake-up call for your taste buds.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Sep. 2023
  • The loss, which brought Golden State to 17-18 at Chase Center this year, also served as a bit of a wake-up call.
    — Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024
  • There have been many wake-up calls lately for the industry.
    — Evan Halper, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2023
  • Their wake-up call will be at 7 (a.m.) or whatever time.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2024
  • In need of power Wednesday’s 20-0 loss at Arizona was a wake-up call.
    — Jenna Ortiz, The Arizona Republic, 20 Apr. 2023
  • This over-the-top-tasty steak and egg breakfast pizza will be the ultimate wake-up call in the morning.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2023
  • Foiled plots inside the United States should be the ultimate wake-up call.
    — Graham Allison, Foreign Affairs, 10 June 2024
  • The seventh-inning stretch isn’t a wake-up call to various body parts.
    — Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2023
  • The scene wasn’t anyone’s idea of a soothing wake-up ritual.
    — Peter C. Baker, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
  • Hassan squatted and lit a cigarette, his eyes a bit red from a 6:30 a.m. wake-up.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2023
  • Tesla owners who are driving while tired could get a wake-up call from their car.
    — Chris Morris, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2023
  • The telecom industry has needed a wake-up call for far too long.
    — Ethan Stone, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024
  • Pity the poor souls who go on group vacations with Virgos in charge and find out their wake-up times have been listed on the itinerary.
    — Fran Tirado, Them, 18 Dec. 2024
  • The deal was a big wake-up call for traditional credit card companies.
    — Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 18 Dec. 2024
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wake up

2 of 2 verb
  • The kick from the jalapeños should help your taste buds wake up with a hot kick.
    — Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Nov. 2023
  • Those who wake up from that lie and try to grow, and those who don’t.
    — Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Oct. 2023
  • So how about one more time loud enough to wake up Joe Biden.
    — Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 18 July 2024
  • Many of his victims woke up to find him in their homes.
    — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2024
  • She was even said to wake up with hand prints all over her face and body.
    — Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024
  • Greeks on some days are waking up to news of dozens of new fires.
    — Elinda Labropoulou, Washington Post, 2 Sep. 2023
  • Try to stick to a schedule to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day.
    — Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 16 Dec. 2024
  • By the time the women woke up in their room, their cell phones were gone, as were two EpiPens.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
  • Rhine still wakes up with a start in the middle of the night, said his wife, Jennifer Rhine.
    — Madeleine O'Neill, Baltimore Sun, 20 June 2024
  • In the morning, wake up to a caviar and Champagne breakfast in bed.
    — Devorah Lev-Tov, Robb Report, 13 Feb. 2024
  • Nothing takes the zen out of a good night’s sleep like waking up drenched in sweat.
    — Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 13 Aug. 2024
  • And start waking up at 5:45 to make your child’s breakfast and pack lunch.
    — Danielle Jennings, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024
  • The icing on top is waking up to the double view of the Mediterranean Sea and the Riviera.
    — Martie Bowser, Essence, 16 May 2024
  • Like a clock, at 3 a.m., Darwin will wake up, complain and come to my bed.
    — Paige Darrah, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2023
  • Just slap one on before bed to wake up to clearer skin.
    — Emily Orofino, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2024
  • My younger son woke up at 3 a.m. with a touch of restlessness.
    — Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Mar. 2024
  • Five hours later, the man woke up and noticed white smoke, the report said.
    — Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2024
  • On the other hand, if the Cubs don’t wake up soon, Hoyer could be the one looking at a fire sale.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2024
  • But that’s starting to change as the world wakes up to the gravity of the climate crisis.
    — Nina Seega, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
  • Half of the guest rooms face the ocean, so some guests will have the advantage of waking up to crashing waves.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Aug. 2024
  • The woman woke up, pushed away Ansari's hand and got up and told a flight attendant.
    — Phil Helsel, NBC News, 6 Oct. 2023
  • People in Louisville woke up to rain that could extend until the evening.
    — Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 13 Sep. 2024
  • Keep your sleep schedule the same daily: Go to bed and wake up around the same time, even on weekends.
    — Sayaka Blickenderfer, Health, 16 Mar. 2024
  • The video then switched to darkness as Jenner went to wake up her son in his bedroom.
    — Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024
  • The plot is simple: Two strangers wake up chained in a windowless room.
    — Stacey Grant, Seventeen, 15 Mar. 2023
  • However, there is one painful part of the dreams — waking up.
    — Rachel McRady, People.com, 18 Dec. 2024
  • For weeks, Rich would wake up in the middle of the night, replaying the incident in his mind.
    — Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 4 Oct. 2023
  • Will Ingrid wake up to find Martha’s bedroom door closed?
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 2 Sep. 2024
  • Promising more efficient beauty rest, the overnight cream plumps, smooths, and lifts, helping one wake up to firmer, brighter eyes.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 5 Jan. 2025
  • Doña Elvira, who lives eleven thousand feet above sea level in Ecuador, wakes up before dawn.
    — Jordan Salama, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wake-up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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