woke

Definition

Awake: conscious and not asleep.

Etymology

Shortened from woken or woken up, or derived from dialectal use of woke (past participle of wake). The sense of being aware of social injustice dates to at least the 1930s. The derogatory use has been most commonly used as of the 2020s.

Example Sentences

• "Waking up is a damn sight harder than going to sleep, but we’ll stay woke up longer."
• "If You’re Woke You Dig It [title]"
• "I been sleeping all my life. And now that Mr. Garvey done woke me up, I’m gon stay woke. And I’m gon help him wake up other black folk."