Awake vs. Awaken: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Awake is an adjective or verb meaning to stop sleeping or to become alert; awaken is a verb meaning to cause to stop sleeping or to become alert.
Key Differences
Awake as an adjective describes the state of not being asleep, such as in "She was awake by dawn." As a verb, it means to cease sleeping or to become conscious, like "He will awake at the sound of the alarm." Awaken, on the other hand, is always a verb. It refers to the action of causing oneself or another to stop sleeping or to become conscious, as in "The loud noise awakened her."
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Nov 29, 2023
Awake can also describe a state of being aware, as in "She was awake to the possibilities." As a verb, it might imply a sudden or gradual coming to consciousness, like "I awoke to a strange noise." Awaken is more about the act of rousing from sleep or a dormant state, often used in a more figurative sense, such as "The experience awakened a new interest in art."
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Nov 29, 2023
In some contexts, awake is interchangeable with awaken, especially when used as a verb. For instance, "I awake at sunrise" and "I awaken at sunrise" are both correct, but awake can sound more formal or archaic. Awaken often implies a process or an action done by an external force, like "The smell of coffee awakened his senses."
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Nov 29, 2023
The usage of awake and awaken can depend on the sentence structure. For example, "She awoke with a start" uses awake in a past tense form, while "She was awakened by the alarm" uses awaken in a passive form. Awake is used more often when the subject is doing the action, and awaken when the action is being done to the subject.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 29, 2023
Awake can also serve as a past participle in some cases, as in "She has awoken early." Awaken, however, is rarely used in this form, maintaining its primary function as an active verb, such as in "The speech awakened his passion for politics."
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 29, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Usage in a Sentence
Describes state or action of becoming conscious
Refers to causing to become conscious
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Nov 29, 2023
Examples
"She was awake."; "He awoke suddenly."
"The noise awakened him."; "She was awakened by a dream."
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Nov 29, 2023
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Awake and Awaken Definitions
Awaken
To bring into a state of consciousness;
The news awakened a sense of urgency.
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Nov 29, 2023
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Awake
To rouse from sleep; waken
"It was almost dark when the sound of crickets awoke her" (Jonathan Safran Foer).
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Oct 19, 2023
Awake
To make aware of
The report awoke him to the possibilities of a compromise.
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Oct 19, 2023
Awaken
To become aware of something
He finally awakened to the fact that he was wrong.
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Oct 19, 2023
Awaken
To cause (someone) to become aware; alert or enlighten
The news awakened her to the truth.
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Oct 19, 2023
Awaken
To stir up or produce (a memory or feeling, for example)
Her new job awakened in her a sense of responsibility. See Usage Note at wake1.
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Oct 19, 2023
Awake
To become aware or cognizant
"Web publishers have awaked to the idea that they need to offer not only material appealing to children, but a little supervision as well" (Laurie J. Flynn). See Usage Note at wake1.
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Oct 19, 2023
Awaken
(transitive) To cause to become awake.
She awakened him by ringing the bell.
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Oct 19, 2023
Awaken
(intransitive) To stop sleeping; awake.
Each morning he awakens with a smile on his face.
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Oct 19, 2023
Awaken
To bring into action (something previously dormant); to stimulate.
Awaken your entrepreneurial spirit!
We hope to awaken your interest in our programme.
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Oct 19, 2023
Awake
Alert, aware.
They were awake to the possibility of a decline in sales.
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Oct 19, 2023
Awaken
To become aware.
I suddenly awoke to the possibilities of the new invention.
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Oct 19, 2023
Awaken
To rouse from sleep or torpor; to awake; to wake.
[He] is dispatchedAlready to awaken whom thou nam'st.
Their consciences are thoroughly awakened.
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Oct 19, 2023
Awaken
Cause to become awake or conscious;
He was roused by the drunken men in the street
Please wake me at 6 AM.
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Oct 19, 2023
Awake
To rouse from sleep; to wake; to awaken.
Where morning's earliest ray . . . awake her.
And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us; we perish.
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Oct 19, 2023
Awake
To rouse from a state resembling sleep, as from death, stupidity., or inaction; to put into action; to give new life to; to stir up; as, to awake the dead; to awake the dormant faculties.
I was soon awaked from this disagreeable reverie.
It way awake my bounty further.
No sunny gleam awakes the trees.
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Oct 19, 2023
Awake
To cease to sleep; to come out of a state of natural sleep; and, figuratively, out of a state resembling sleep, as inaction or death.
The national spirit again awoke.
Awake to righteousness, and sin not.
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Oct 19, 2023
Awake
Not sleeping or lethargic; roused from sleep; in a state of vigilance or action.
Before whom awake I stood.
She still beheld,Now wide awake, the vision of her sleep.
He was awake to the danger.
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Oct 19, 2023
Awake
Not in a state of sleep; completely conscious;
Lay awake thinking about his new job
Still not fully awake
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Oct 19, 2023
Awake
Not unconscious; especially having become conscious;
The patient is now awake and alert
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Oct 19, 2023
Awake
(usually followed by `to') showing acute awareness; mentally perceptive;
Alert to the problems
Alive to what is going on
Awake to the dangers of her situation
Was now awake to the reality of his predicament
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is "awake" used in passive voice?
Rarely, it's more common in active voice.
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Nov 29, 2023
Can "awaken" be used figuratively?
Yes, often to imply a realization or coming into awareness.
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Nov 29, 2023
Is "awaken" used to describe personal experience?
More commonly to describe actions done to or by others.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 29, 2023
Can "awake" and "awaken" be used interchangeably?
Sometimes, depending on context.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 29, 2023
Is "awaken" used in active or passive sentences?
Both, but more common in passive.
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Nov 29, 2023
Can "awaken" describe an inner realization?
Yes, especially in a metaphorical sense.
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Nov 29, 2023
Is "awakened" the past participle of "awaken"?
Yes, and also used in passive forms.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 29, 2023
Can "awake" and "awaken" both describe becoming conscious?
Yes, but in slightly different contexts.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 29, 2023
Can "awake" be used to describe alertness?
Yes, as in being awake to something.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 29, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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