weɪk ʌp
neutral
beginner
- Base verb:
- wake
- Particle:
- up
- Separable:
- Yes
What does "wake up" mean?
- To stop sleeping
- To make someone stop sleeping
- To become aware of something
Examples
- I wake up at 6 am every day.
- Can you wake me up before you leave?
- It's time to wake up and face reality.
- The noise woke up the whole neighbourhood.
- She woke up to the smell of coffee.
How to use it
'Wake-up call' is both literal (hotel service) and figurative (a warning that makes you realize something). Very common everyday phrasal verb.
Word order
Object can go between: 'wake someone up' or 'wake up the kids'
Similar expressions
awaken
arise
become aware
Opposites
fall asleep
sleep
ignore
Related phrasal verbs
- get up
To rise from bed after sleeping
- turn up
To increase the volume, heat, or intensity of something
- give up
To stop trying to do something, often because it is too difficult
- bring up
To mention or introduce a topic in conversation
- go up
To increase in price, level, or amount
- come up
To be mentioned or discussed
Use it in a practice answer
Try "wake up" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.