wake-up call

noun

Synonyms of wake-up callnext
1
: something (such as a telephone call from a hotel employee to a guest) that serves to wake a sleeper
2
: something that serves to alert a person to a problem, danger, or need
a wake-up call to parents

Synonyms of wake-up call

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Examples of wake-up call in a Sentence

his high blood pressure was a wake-up call that he needed to do something about his health
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Those efforts show the pandemic has been a wake-up call, Horowitz said. — Rachel Scott, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2023 Texas is on an entirely different level than those teams and had a bit of a wake-up call against Penn State. — Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 20 Mar. 2023 The persistence of that finding should be a wake-up call for employers already battling high turnover and labor shortages. — Wire Services, Dallas News, 22 Mar. 2023 Our editor noted that the delicate tinkling makes for a very pleasant wake-up call and adds a calming ambiance when hanging out in the backyard on a gently breezy day. — Kate McGregor, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Mar. 2023 See All Example Sentences for wake-up call

Word History

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wake-up call was in 1974

Rhymes for wake-up call

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Browse Nearby Words

wake up and smell the coffee/roses
wake-up call
wakf
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Cite this Entry

“Wake-up call.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wake-up%20call. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

wake-up call

noun
1
: something (as a telephone call from a hotel employee to a guest) that serves to wake up a sleeper
2
: something that serves to alert a person to a problem, danger, or need
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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