awake and wake share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. awake means “not in a state of sleep; completely conscious”. wake means “be awake, be alert, be there”. wake is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/əˈweɪk/
1.adj.not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
“lay awake thinking about his new job”
2.adj.mentally perceptive and responsive
“an alert mind”
3.v.stop sleeping
“She woke up to the sound of the alarm clock”
/ˈweɪk/
1.v.be awake, be alert, be there
2.v.stop sleeping
“She woke up to the sound of the alarm clock”
3.v.arouse or excite feelings and passions
“The ostentatious way of living of the rich ignites the hatred of the poor”
| awake | wake | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /əˈweɪk/ | /ˈweɪk/ |
| Said | uh-WAYK | wayk |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Letters | 5 | 4 |
| Parts of speech | adjective, verb | verb, noun |
| Senses | 3 | 9 |
| How common | Common | Core |
| Synonyms | none recorded | none recorded |
Full entry for awake · Full entry for wake · More comparisons