awaken

views updated May 14 2018

a·wak·en / əˈwākən/ • v. [tr.] rouse from sleep; cause to stop sleeping: Anna was awakened by the telephone. ∎  [intr.] stop sleeping: he sighed but did not awaken. ∎  rouse (a feeling): different images can awaken new emotions within us. ∎  (awaken someone to) make someone aware of (something) for the first time: the movie helped to awaken the public to the horrors of apartheid.

More From encyclopedia.com