waking

adjective

wak·​ing ˈwā-kiŋ How to pronounce waking (audio)
Synonyms of wakingnext
: passed in a conscious or alert state
every waking hour

Examples of waking in a Sentence

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.
Teens spend much of their waking time with peers and friends. — Catherine Bagwell, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2020 Students spend more waking hours a day at school than at home in the July-May. — Madeleine Parrish, The Arizona Republic, 8 Oct. 2024 Ronan Lynch has the power to bring objects from dreams into the waking world. — Washington Post, 24 Dec. 2019 Except now, without practices and position meetings and all the usual minutiae consuming every waking moment of a coach’s day, Williams has never had so much time. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2020 See All Example Sentences for waking

Word History

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of waking was in 1556

Phrases Containing waking

Rhymes for waking

See All Rhymes for waking

Browse Nearby Words

Wakhi
waking
waking hour/moment
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Waking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waking. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on waking

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for waking

Nglish: Translation of waking for Spanish Speakers

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