What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
wake
Example
I usually wake up at 6 am every morning. [wake: verb]
Example
The wake from the boat rocked the small fishing boat. [wake: noun]
Example
The scandal left a wake of controversy and public outrage. [wake: noun]
awaken
Example
I was awakened by the sound of my alarm clock. [awakened: past tense]
Example
The motivational speaker aimed to awaken the audience's potential. [awaken: verb]
Example
The documentary awakened me to the harsh realities of climate change. [awakened: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Wake is more common than awaken in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between wake and awaken?
Awaken is more formal than wake and is often used in more professional or academic contexts.
