wake up — 2 meanings

One phrase, 2 different jobs. Tap a meaning to jump to it — then lock each one in by saying it out loud.

phrasal verb2 meanings

1 stop sleepingTo stop sleeping and become awake.
2 make someone awareTo make someone realize or notice something, especially something important.

Spot the meaning

Which one is it?

Read the sentence, then pick the meaning that's in play.

All meanings, in depth

Ordered by how often you'll hear each one — the meaning tells you what it does, the examples and tips show it in use.

stop sleeping

B1wake up sthMost common

To stop sleeping and become awake.

I usually wake up at six in the morning.

A: What time did you wake up today?
B: Around eight, but I stayed in bed for a while.

In my country, most people wake up early during the week because they have to go to work or school.

Common mistake

✗I woke up me early.

✓I woke up early.

Intransitive here — don't add 'me' (rousing someone else is 'wake him up').

Tell it apart

I wake up at six.

stop sleeping

I get up at six.

get out of bed

You can use 'wake up' for yourself or for someone else. For example, 'I wake up at 7' or 'She wakes me up.''Wake up' is about becoming conscious; 'get up' is about leaving your bed.

Often paired with

wake up + time

Practice saying this →

make someone aware

B2wake sb up sth

To make someone realize or notice something, especially something important.

The news report woke people up to the dangers of air pollution.

A: I didn't realize how serious the problem was.
B: Yeah, it really woke me up when I saw the statistics.

Traveling abroad can wake you up to different cultures and ways of thinking.

Common mistake

✗The crisis woke them up the risks.

✓The crisis woke them up to the risks.

'Wake someone up TO' something — don't drop 'to'.

Tell it apart

It woke me up to the problem.

made me aware

It woke me up.

roused me from sleep — sense

This sense is often used for realizing facts or problems, not just about sleep.Here, 'wake up' is about understanding, not about sleep.

Often paired with

wake up + to

Practice saying this →

Turn this into speaking practice

Practise one meaning at a time and save the ones you mix up for review.

stop sleeping make someone aware