awakening
new or deeper awareness
A time when a person suddenly understands something important or feels something strongly for the first time.
[someone]'s awakening to [something]
- Her trip to the countryside was an awakening, making her realize how much she valued a slower life.
- The documentary was a real awakening for him to the reality of climate change.
- In his thirties he experienced an emotional awakening and began to talk openly about his feelings.
- The book triggered an awakening in her, and she changed her career soon after.
- For many people, becoming a parent is an awakening to new responsibilities and fears.
- The class was an awakening for me about how other people live.
- Traveling alone was a big awakening in my life.
- The news report was an awakening to the danger of air pollution.
- After his health problem, he had an awakening and started to exercise.
- The story gave her an awakening about what she really wanted.
act of waking from sleep
The time when a person stops sleeping and becomes awake.
the awakening of [someone/something]
- Her awakening was slow and peaceful as the sun came through the curtains.
- The baby’s sudden awakening in the night left them both exhausted.
- After his afternoon nap, his awakening was confused and he did not know what time it was.
- The loud thunder caused a rude awakening for everyone in the house.
- He remembered the strange dream clearly upon awakening.
- My awakening was very early today.
- The loud alarm caused my quick awakening.
- Her awakening from the long sleep was a big surprise.
- The dog’s barking led to my awakening.
- Upon awakening, he checked his phone.
mass religious or social revival
A time when many people at once start to care more strongly about religion, politics, or social problems.
an awakening of [a group/people]
- The country experienced a political awakening after the corruption scandal.
- Many historians describe the period as a religious awakening that reshaped the nation.
- There has been a global awakening to environmental justice in recent years.
- The novel captured the cultural awakening of the 1960s youth movement.
- The protests marked an awakening of democratic hopes among the population.
- The protests showed an awakening in the city.
- Many people talk about a new environmental awakening.
- The film helped create a social awakening about workers’ rights.
- The movement was part of a cultural awakening in the country.
- After the war there was an awakening of national pride.
in the process of waking
Waking up, or just starting to feel or notice something.
an awakening [child/interest/awareness]
- He watched the awakening child rub her eyes and smile.
- An awakening interest in science led her to change her major.
- The poem describes an awakening awareness of time and loss.
- The film shows an awakening desire for freedom in the main character.
- They wanted to support the region’s awakening tourism industry.
- They looked at the awakening baby in the crib.
- He felt an awakening interest in art.
- The story is about an awakening love between two friends.
- She wrote about her awakening feelings of fear.
- The teacher tried to help their awakening curiosity.
- Base: awakening
- Plural: awakening, awakenings
artistic awakening
1new awareness of art or creativity
A time when a person suddenly becomes very interested in art or discovers their own creative talent.
- Her artistic awakening began when she took a simple drawing class.
- Living in the city was an artistic awakening for him.
- The workshop was an artistic awakening for many of the children.
political awakening
1new awareness of politics
A time when a person or a group starts to care more about politics and understand how power and government affect their lives.
- The protests were part of his political awakening.
- Many students experienced a political awakening during the election.
- The crisis led to a political awakening among young voters.
rude awakening
1sudden, unpleasant realization
A sudden and often shocking discovery that a situation is much worse or very different from what you thought.
- After years of easy success, the company got a rude awakening when sales suddenly dropped.
- Moving out gave him a rude awakening about how expensive life really is.
- Anyone who thinks the exam will be easy is in for a rude awakening.
sexual awakening
1first awareness of sexuality
The time, often in the teenage years, when a person first strongly feels and understands their sexual desires.
- The film follows a teenager’s sexual awakening and first love.
- For many people, leaving home can be part of their sexual awakening.
- The novel explores her sexual awakening in a very honest way.
social awakening
1new awareness of social issues
A time when people start to notice social problems, such as racism or poverty, and feel that these problems must be changed.
- The video sparked a social awakening around police violence.
- The country is going through a social awakening on gender equality.
- Many companies are facing a social awakening about their role in climate change.
spiritual awakening
1new awareness of spiritual life
A time when a person suddenly becomes very interested in spiritual or religious life, or feels a deeper connection to it.
- Traveling alone in the mountains was a spiritual awakening for her.
- He describes his recovery from addiction as a kind of spiritual awakening.
- The book helped many readers start their own spiritual awakening.