wake up

verb

Etymology: From wake + up.

1. To stop sleeping; to awake.

   “I made a speaking trumpet of my hands and commenced to whoop “Ahoy!” and “Hello!” at the top of my lungs. […] The Colonel woke up, and, after asking what in brimstone was the matter, opened his mouth and roared “Hi!” and “Hello!” like the bull of Bashan.”

   “"Woke up, fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head"”

2. To awaken somebody.

   “Wake your brother up; it's time for school.”

   “It had been his intention to go to Wimbledon, but as he himself said: “Why be blooming well frizzled when you can hear all the results over the wireless.[…]You stand by, Janet, and wake me up if they do any of that running commentary stuff.””

3. To become more aware of a real-life situation; to concentrate on the matter in hand.

   “Some businesses were slow to wake up to the importance of the Internet.”

   “That's the third time you've made the same mistake. Wake up!”