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Definition of wakeful

wakeful

/ˈweɪk.fəl/
wake · ful
Adverb:wakefully
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wakeful Lexical Profile

wakeful Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Unable to sleep or characterized by a lack of sleep.

Example

"The anxious student spent a long, wakeful night reviewing her notes before the final exam."

2

Alert and vigilant; carefully keeping watch.

Example

"The shepherd remained wakeful throughout the storm to ensure the flock stayed safe."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

wakeboarder
wakeboarding
wakefield
wakeful
wakefully
wakefulness
waken

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English as 'wakful', combining the Old English verb 'wacian' (to remain awake or keep watch) with the suffix '-ful'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Wakeful. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/wakeful
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