woker; wokest
chiefly US slang
1
a
: aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice)
But we will only succeed if we reject the growing pressure to retreat into cynicism and hopelessness. … We have a moral obligation to "stay woke," take a stand and be active; challenging injustices and racism in our communities and fighting hatred and discrimination wherever it rises.—
Barbara Lee
Barbara Lee… argued that … Brad Pitt is not only woke, but the wokest man in Hollywood … because he uses his status—and his production company Plan B—to create space for artists of color, with such films as 12 Years a Slave, Selma, and the upcoming film Moonlight.—Giselle Defares
Giselle DefaresBeing woke to gender discrimination is difficult; it ruins things you love. Entire canons of art are rotten to the core with it.—Rachel Edelstein
—often used in contexts that suggest someone's expressed beliefs about such matters are not backed with genuine concern or actionRachel EdelsteinThere is never really a moment where a person of color doesn't have to deal with discrimination, whether it be veiled and passive or as blunt as possible. So, woke white people, why can't you step in?—Lauren Sanchez
Lauren SanchezEnter the age of the performatively woke brand. Politics has become a kind of fashion accessory for corporate America these days, a way to profit from protest.—Jon Gingerich
Jon Gingerich"Fake woke" behavior arises. We put the hashtags on our social media. #Sayhername, #icantbreathe, #blacklivesmatter. And repeat. The problem is that the level of concern we express online doesn't match the everyday behavior we exhibit.—Surayya Walters
Surayya Walters
b
: reflecting the attitudes of woke people
woke values/language
In our newly woke times, there has been increased scrutiny of old films dealing with sensitive subjects.—Hannah Jane Parkinson
Hannah Jane ParkinsonHe wants to make The Wombles more "woke" so the characters are gender-fluid or of different races.—Liz Perkins
Liz Perkins2
disapproving
: politically liberal or progressive (as in matters of racial and social justice) especially in a way that is considered unreasonable or extreme
The national conservatives view today's liberals as woke cultural warriors who pose an existential threat to the nation and its traditions.—Shadi Hamid
Shadi HamidHe's built a social media brand on the right railing against "woke liberals" and supporting former President Donald Trump.—Marissa Martinez
Marissa MartinezThe military is struggling to find new recruits to fill its ranks. … While the official reasons given by the military—including fewer face-to-face recruitments during the pandemic, and fewer young people who meet the physical standards required—likely play a role, some say it's because the military is too "woke," turning off its normal constituency of young, conservative recruits.—Suzanne Bates
Suzanne BatesIf there is any hope, it's that voters are rejecting woke green goals. Already this has occurred in Sweden and Italy, where voters threw out left-wing governments …—Michael Shellenberger
Michael Shellenberger'Woke capitalism' tends to be a term that critics use to refer to … portfolios that are built around environmental, social and governance issues like climate change or diversity.—Victor Reklaitis
Victor Reklaitiswoke
2 of 2past tense and past participle of wake
Examples of woke in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebWashington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 9 Jan. 2024
The Supreme Court struck a blow against government pressure on corporations to go woke.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 30 May 2024
But what about Marvel fans after some of these quotes about Disney going too woke?
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Even Disney executives are learning the limits of their woke activism.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 6 Jan. 2024
The New Right coalesced as part of a backlash against the woke excesses of the recent past—but railing against wokeness is always faintly embarrassing.
—Michelle Orange, Harper's Magazine, 3 Nov. 2023
This combative, defiant spirit—refusing to be canceled, never backing down, standing up to the woke mob—animates Average Joe.
—Charles McCrary, The New Republic, 3 Nov. 2023
With recruitment rates to the U.S. military falling, attention is turning to the rise of woke politics, which is undermining public confidence in America's military leaders.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 2 Nov. 2023
Kendi’s stark provocation that one is either a racist or an anti-racist epitomized the morality play that the right has come to describe as the essence of woke politics.
—Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2023
Adjective
This means rejecting bullying on race, class, and gender, the three horsemen of the woke apocalypse.
—Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 9 Jan. 2024
The Supreme Court struck a blow against government pressure on corporations to go woke.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 30 May 2024
But what about Marvel fans after some of these quotes about Disney going too woke?
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Even Disney executives are learning the limits of their woke activism.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 6 Jan. 2024
The New Right coalesced as part of a backlash against the woke excesses of the recent past—but railing against wokeness is always faintly embarrassing.
—Michelle Orange, Harper's Magazine, 3 Nov. 2023
This combative, defiant spirit—refusing to be canceled, never backing down, standing up to the woke mob—animates Average Joe.
—Charles McCrary, The New Republic, 3 Nov. 2023
With recruitment rates to the U.S. military falling, attention is turning to the rise of woke politics, which is undermining public confidence in America's military leaders.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 2 Nov. 2023
Kendi’s stark provocation that one is either a racist or an anti-racist epitomized the morality play that the right has come to describe as the essence of woke politics.
—Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'woke.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near woke
Cite this Entry
“Woke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/woke. Accessed 27 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
woke
1 of 2past and past participle of wake
woke
2 of 2 adjective
chiefly US slang
1
: aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues especially of racial and social injustice
2
: politically liberal (as in matters of racial and social justice) especially in a way that is considered extreme
—used disapprovingly
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