awake

Definition

Not asleep; conscious.

Etymology

From Middle English awake, a shortened form of awaken (“awakened, awake”), past participle of Middle English awaken (“to awaken”). See verb below. Compare Saterland Frisian woak (“awake”), German Low German waak (“awake”), German wach (“awake”).

Example Sentences

• "By quarter to six all this had me so awake and agitated that even the Balinese wind chimes that I hung up in the garden to relax me began to sound like Big Ben."
• "They were awake to the possibility of a decline in sales."
• "The Baker was a two-handed hitter, and seemed perfectly awake to the business before him."

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