Wake Meaning
Wake Definition & Usage
To stop sleeping and become awake or conscious.
Examples
- "She woke up early this morning and made herself a cup of coffee."
- "I woke to the sound of birds singing outside the window."
- "He usually wakes up at 7 a.m. for work."
- "They woke me up with a loud knock on the door."
- "The baby finally woke up after a long nap."
To cause someone to wake up or become active.
Examples
- "The alarm clock woke me up at 6 a.m."
- "His loud voice woke the entire neighborhood."
- "She woke her friend up to catch the early train."
- "The smell of breakfast woke the kids from their sleep."
- "The cold breeze woke him from his nap on the porch."
To become aware of something, typically in a figurative sense.
Examples
- "It took me a few moments to wake to the reality of the situation."
- "She woke to the realization that she had forgotten her appointment."
- "He woke to the fact that his career was going nowhere."
- "It wasn’t until I woke to the truth that I understood what had been happening."
- "You need to wake to the needs of your team if you want to succeed."
A social gathering, often held before a funeral, where family and friends of a deceased person meet to mourn and celebrate their life.
Examples
- "The family hosted a wake at their home after the funeral service."
- "Many people attended the wake to pay their respects."
- "She stayed at the wake all evening, comforting the grieving relatives."
- "A traditional Irish wake includes food, drinks, and shared memories of the departed."
- "We held a wake for our grandmother last night to remember her life."
To cause a disturbance on the surface of water or air, typically by moving through it.
Examples
- "The boat's motor created a large wake as it sped through the water."
- "The plane flew low, leaving a wake in the clouds."
- "The strong wind made the wake of the boat even larger."
- "The speedboat created a massive wake that rocked the smaller boats."
- "She left a wake in the sand as she walked along the shore."
Cultural Context
The word 'wake' originates from Old English 'wacan', which means 'to be awake or to watch'. Historically, 'wake' has also been used in relation to funerals, where a vigil was kept by the deceased's family and friends. In modern contexts, it is commonly used to describe the act of waking from sleep or becoming conscious of something.
The Wake of a New Day
Story
The Wake of a New Day
Maggie had never been a morning person. She’d always hit snooze one too many times, only to jump out of bed with a start, racing against the clock. Today, however, was different. The light spilling through the curtains wasn’t the usual harsh glare but a soft, golden hue. She woke gently, like the dawn itself was coaxing her out of sleep, and stretched, feeling the calm of the morning. Her cat, Luna, hopped up on the bed, purring, as if urging Maggie to rise. Downstairs, the aroma of fresh coffee filled the air. Maggie’s father, Ben, was already awake, stirring the pot. ‘I made your favorite blend,’ he said, smiling warmly. ‘Thought you might need some cheering up after last night.’ Maggie had attended the wake for her late aunt, who had passed just a few days ago. It had been a solemn gathering, filled with tears and laughter as family shared stories. She’d stayed late, comforting her mother, who still seemed dazed from the loss. ‘I know it’s been a hard week,’ Ben said, as he poured the coffee. ‘But today’s a new day. Let’s wake up to the world and start fresh.’ Maggie nodded, the weight of the past few days still hanging over her. But there was a lightness in her heart now, too. She realized it was time to wake to the truth that she would carry her aunt’s memory forward, not in sorrow, but in the love they had shared. Later, as they drove to the lake for a quiet afternoon, Maggie couldn’t help but notice the wake of their boat, rippling the surface of the water behind them. It was a reminder: the past was like the wake of the boat, leaving ripples that faded slowly, but the present was a smooth, open horizon, full of possibilities.
