awaken Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb cause to become awake or conscious
    waken; arouse; wake; rouse; wake up.
    • He was roused by the drunken men in the street
    • Please wake me at 6 AM.
  2. verb stop sleeping
    waken; come alive; arouse; wake; awake; wake up.
    • She woke up to the sound of the alarm clock
  3. verb make aware
    • They were awakened to the sad facts

WordNet

A*wak"en transitive verb & intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. awakenen, awaknen, AS. awæcnan, awæcnian, v. i.; pref. on- + wæcnan to wake. Cf. Awake, v. t.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Awakened ; present participle & verbal noun Awakening
Definitions
  1. To rouse from sleep or torpor; to awake; to wake.
    [He] is dispatched Already to awaken whom thou nam'st. Cowper.
    Their consciences are thoroughly awakened. Tillotson.
    Syn. -- To arouse; excite; stir up; call forth.

Webster 1913