Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 10 May 2026 In the wake of her divorce, Showvay reached out to her longtime friend — and high school boyfriend — Billy Oliver, who was navigating his own loss after the death of his fiancée and his father. In the wake, or aftermath, of a death, it's traditional in many cultures to hold a wake, a vigil for the dead. There's a third meaning of wake, too, you know: it's the waves that a boat leaves behind as it slices through the water.

Understanding the Context

Grammar Wake, wake up or awaken? Wake and wake up are verbs which mean ‘stop sleeping or end someone else’s sleep’. They are used in everyday language. … A wake is a gathering or social event that is held before or after someone's funeral.

Key Insights

A funeral wake was in progress. wake (plural wakes) A period after a person's death before or after the body is buried, cremated, etc.; in some cultures accompanied by a party or collectively sorting through the deceased's personal effects. What is a Wake? (Difference between a Funeral, Wake, Memorial) What is a wake, and how does it differ from a funeral or memorial service? This guide will explain everything.

Final Thoughts

Wake-on-LAN, a signal that activates a device via a network connection Wake-on-ring, or Wake-on-Modem (WOM), a signal that activates a device via a telephone connection Only wake is used in the sense "to be awake," as in expressions like waking (not wakening) and sleeping, every waking hour. Wake is also more common than waken when used together with up, and awake and awaken never occur in this context: She woke up (rarely wakened up; never awakened up or awoke up).