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View synonyms for woke

woke

[ wohk ]

verb

  1. a simple past tense of wake 1.


adjective

  1. having or marked by an active awareness of systemic injustices and prejudices, especially those involving the treatment of ethnic, racial, or sexual minorities: He took one African American history class and now he thinks he’s woke.

    In light of incidents of police brutality, it’s important to stay woke.

    He took one African American history class and now he thinks he’s woke.

    This generation of kids is trying to make woke choices in life.

  2. Disparaging. as used by political opponents, of or relating to a liberal progressive orthodoxy.
  3. Slang. aware of the facts, true situation, etc. (sometimes used facetiously):

    Stay woke—always read a contract before you sign it, and know your rights.

  4. awake:

    I had to drink lots of coffee this morning to stay woke.

woke

/ wəʊk /

verb

  1. See wake
    a past tense of wake 1


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Other Words From

  • un·woke adjective
  • woke·ism wok·ism noun
  • woke·ness noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of woke1

First recorded before 900 as past tense woke ( fordef 1 ); 1960–65 woke ( fordefs 2, 4 ), popularized by the Black civil rights movement and later by Black Lives Matter

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Example Sentences

One measly year later, Pam woke to find a naked Ewing grinning at her in the shower.

When she came to, she alleges that she woke up in his bed and Cosby had his shirt off.

She woke up and realized she had no recollection of the past several hours.

Another incident, in January, involved a Kenyan man, Paul Mutora, who woke up in the morgue 15 hours after being pronounced dead.

“I woke up and I was in the back of my car all alone,” Ferrier said.

The strains of the syren at last woke her uncle, and brought back Miss Hood, who suggested that it was late.

Both animal and man seemed to be dozing, but they woke into activity when the sahib approached.

Instantly Eudora, who had seemed so listless, woke up with all the hospitality of her Southern nature roused to action.

Perhaps vanity was wounded there—that his successful rival woke contempt in her was unendurable.

It was two nights after this conversation that I woke out of deep sleep and heard sounds of screaming.

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wokaswokeism