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woke

SayWOHK/woʊk//wəʊk/

7 meanings of woke

Practice

  1. 1
    stopped sleepingverb
    Past tense of wake. Use this form for waking that already happened.

    She woke early and made breakfast for everyone.

    The baby woke twice last night.

    UsageOften woke up. After have, has, or had, standard English uses woken: she had woken early.

  2. 2
    adjectiveslangderogatory
    Used as an insult for people or things seen as too focused on social justice or politically correct ideas.

    Critics called the new school rules too woke.

    Some politicians attack any policy they think is woke.

    UsageYou can say too woke or the wokest.

    Note
  3. 3
    socially awareadjectiveslang
    Aware of unfair treatment in society, especially about race and other social justice issues.

    Like having your eyes open to problems other people walk right past.

    After the documentary, many viewers felt more woke about racial injustice.

    He's pretty woke when it comes to social problems in his city.

    UsagePeople say stay woke to mean keep paying attention.

    Similaraware, alert, vigilant

    Oppositeunaware, oblivious

    Note
  4. 4
    stopped sleepingverbdialectal
    Past participle of wake, used in casual or regional speech. In careful writing, use woken.

    I have woke at dawn every day this week.

    She had woke before the alarm even rang.

    UsageIn formal writing, use have woken.

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 5
    progressive beliefsnounslangderogatoryuncountable
    A set of progressive beliefs, especially about social justice. Used as an insult.

    Some people blame woke for everything they dislike about modern culture.

    He gave a speech warning about the dangers of woke.

    UsageUsually no the right before it: the war on woke.

    Note
  2. 6
    progressive personnounslangderogatorycountable
    A person who holds very progressive opinions. Used as an insult.

    My uncle complains that the wokes have taken over his favorite TV shows.

    The wokes in the office organized a diversity event.

    UsageYou may see the wokes used for a group of people.

    Note
  3. 7
    not asleepadjectiveslang
    Awake and conscious, not asleep.

    Like a light that is still switched on.

    I was still woke at midnight, waiting for her call.

    Are you woke? I think I heard something downstairs.

    UsageSaid after a verb: stay woke. Most people say awake.

    Similarawake, conscious, alert, wakeful

    Oppositeasleep

    Note

woke is a form of wake

wake, verb: To stop sleeping, or to make someone stop sleeping. Full entry

Forms
wakewakes he/she/itwaking -ing formwoke past tensewoken past participle
Spelling
wake → woke: irregular (no -ed)

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of woke apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from "woken" or "woken up", or from a dialect use of "woke", the past form of "wake". The meaning of being aware of social injustice goes back to at least the 1930s.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts