wake up

phrasal verb·4 senses·particle up

Meanings

1

Stop sleeping and become conscious

Appearance

Why “up”? Rising into view. What comes up becomes present and visible.

“I wake up at six every morning.”
I stop sleeping at six every morning.
“The baby woke up during the storm.”
The baby stopped sleeping during the storm.
“He hates waking up before sunrise.”
He hates returning to consciousness before sunrise.
2

Rouse another person from sleep

Appearance
“Please wake me up at seven.”
Please rouse me from sleep at seven.
“The alarm woke everyone up before dawn.”
The alarm roused everyone from sleep before dawn.
“Don't wake him up. He had a long night.”
Don't disturb his sleep. He had a long night.
3

Become mentally alert or start paying attention

Appearanceuncommon
“Wake up. The meeting has already started.”
Pay attention. The meeting has already started.
“He woke up after his second cup of coffee.”
He became more alert after his second cup of coffee.
“He finally woke up and saw the problem.”
He finally became alert and noticed the problem.
4

Make someone realise an unpleasant truth

Appearanceuncommon
“The crisis woke everyone up to the risks.”
The crisis made everyone realise the risks.
“The failed test woke her up to the problem.”
The failed test made her realise the problem.
“It's time we woke up to climate change.”
It's time we faced the reality of climate change.

Test yourself

“I wake up at six every morning.” What does it mean?

Nearby in the meaning map

Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.

blow up

Same up pattern: appearance

Explode or be destroyed by an explosion; Inflate something by filling it with air; Suddenly become very angry; Enlarge a photograph or image; (of a storm or argument) develop quickly into something serious

bring up

Same up pattern: appearance

Mention or raise a topic

call up

Same up pattern: appearance

Telephone someone; Order someone to join military service; Display information on a screen or computer; Bring a memory or feeling vividly to mind; Select a player for a higher-level team

catch up

Same up pattern: appearance

Reach the same level or position as someone ahead; Get up to date with news, work or events you have missed; (of bad behaviour or neglect) start to have unavoidable consequences; Spend time talking to a friend after a period apart

clear up

Same up pattern: appearance

Tidy a place by putting things away; (of weather) become bright and dry after rain or cloud; Resolve a misunderstanding or doubt by explaining it; (of an illness, rash or symptom) disappear or get better; Solve a mystery or unsolved problem

come up

Same up pattern: appearance

Arise as a topic or event

crop up

Same up pattern: appearance

Appear unexpectedly in a situation

cut up

Same up pattern: appearance

Cut something into smaller pieces; Make someone deeply upset or distressed; Behave in a wild or noisy way to attract attention; Overtake another driver suddenly and dangerously

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