English Dictionary

WAKEFUL

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

 Dictionary entry overview: What does wakeful mean? 

WAKEFUL (adjective)
  The adjective WAKEFUL has 3 senses:

1. carefully observant or attentive; on the lookout for possible dangerplay

2. (of sleep) easily disturbedplay

3. marked by full consciousness or alertnessplay

  Familiarity information: WAKEFUL used as an adjective is uncommon.


 Dictionary entry details 


WAKEFUL (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Carefully observant or attentive; on the lookout for possible danger

Synonyms:

argus-eyed; open-eyed; vigilant; wakeful

Context example:

a watchful parent with a toddler in tow

Similar:

alert; watchful (engaged in or accustomed to close observation)

Derivation:

wakefulness (the process of paying close and continuous attention)


Sense 2

Meaning:

(of sleep) easily disturbed

Synonyms:

light; wakeful

Context example:

a restless wakeful night

Similar:

shallow (not deep or strong; not affecting one deeply)

Derivation:

wakefulness (a temporary state in which you are unable (or unwilling) to sleep)


Sense 3

Meaning:

Marked by full consciousness or alertness

Synonyms:

wakeful; waking

Context example:

worked every moment of my waking hours

Similar:

awake (not in a state of sleep; completely conscious)


 Context examples 


I was still so engaged when, in one of my more wakeful moments, my eyes fell upon my hand.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Before sunrise and sunset, however, she is very wakeful and alert; and it has become a habit for Van Helsing to hypnotise her at such times.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

I am quite wakeful now.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Far from being tired, I was exceedingly wakeful, and I remained here for an hour or more thinking over the incidents of the game and the changes which it promised to bring about in my fortunes.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She says that we are very good to her; that her dear old careful boy is tiring himself out, she knows; that my aunt has no sleep, yet is always wakeful, active, and kind.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I seemed to become more wakeful, and myriads of horrible fancies began to crowd in upon my mind—all of them connected with death, and vampires; with blood, and pain, and trouble.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Fortunately, the weather is so hot that she cannot get cold; but still the anxiety and the perpetually being wakened is beginning to tell on me, and I am getting nervous and wakeful myself.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"A sound mind in a sound body." (English proverb)

"Force, no matter how concealed, begets resistance." (Native American proverb, Lakota)

"Life will show you what you did not know." (Arabic proverb)

"The word goes out but the message is lost." (Corsican proverb)



ALSO IN ENGLISH DICTIONARY:


© 2000-2023 AudioEnglish.org | AudioEnglish® is a Registered Trademark | Terms of use and privacy policy
Contact