awaken
The loud noise awoke the sleeping baby.
The loud noise caused the sleeping baby to wake up.
to wake someone from sleep
The alarm clock awoke him at 6 AM.
The alarm clock caused him to wake up at 6 AM.
Often used in the passive voice ('was awakened').
to make someone aware of something
The documentary awakened her to the environmental crisis.
The documentary made her aware of the environmental crisis.
Used metaphorically to describe becoming conscious of an issue or emotion.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Literal vs. Figurative Use
Remember that 'awaken' can mean both waking up from sleep and becoming aware of something important.
Gold Rule
Passive Voice
The passive form ('was awakened') is common in formal or literary contexts.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'awaken', from Old English 'onwæcnian', from 'on-' (intensive prefix) + 'wæcnian' (to wake). Related to 'wake'.
Usage Notes
Can be used both literally (waking from sleep) and figuratively (becoming aware of something).