Waking Up: Meaning, Synonyms, App & Health Insights

There’s a good chance you’ve heard “waking up” used in two very different ways—one describing the simple act of opening your eyes in the morning, the other pointing to a deeper kind of awareness. That second meaning is the mission of the Waking Up app, created by neuroscientist and author Sam Harris, which has drawn millions of users since 2018, and this article explores both the literal sleep science and the app’s mindfulness movement.

Definition from Merriam-Webster: Waking up: to cease sleeping; to become aware ·
App creator: Sam Harris ·
App availability: Free for those who cannot afford it

The table below summarizes key reference points on waking up in its various senses.

What is the meaning of Waking Up?

The phrase “waking up” carries two distinct meanings, one literal and one metaphorical. Literally, it describes the transition from sleep to wakefulness, as defined by Merriam‑Webster: “to cease sleeping; to become aware.” Metaphorically, it signifies a shift in consciousness—a moment of insight or enlightenment. That second sense is central to the Waking Up app, which Waking Up (official site) describes as a “nondual meditation app” that aims to help users see the nature of their own minds.

What does “waking up” mean in different contexts?

• Physiological: the process of transitioning from sleep to wakefulness, governed by circadian rhythms and light exposure.
• Spiritual/meditative: e.g., awakening to nondual awareness, the explicit goal of the Waking Up app according to a Clearer Thinking (research institute) analysis.
• Political/social: often used in activism to mean becoming aware of systemic issues (not the focus here).

The implication: nearly every conversation about “waking up” ultimately relies on the hearer’s ability to distinguish these frames. The app side, which this article focuses on, deliberately plays with both meanings.

Is it “Waking Up” or “wakening up”?

The English verb family around “wake” is famously messy. The correct participle forms are well established even if they trip up native speakers.

The verb “wake” has the past tense “woke” and the past participle “woken” (or “waked” in some contexts). “Waken” and “awaken” are weaker forms; “waken up” is not standard. A Merriam‑Webster usage note clarifies that “woke up” is perfectly correct, while “woken up” is the standard past participle: “I have just woken up,” not “I have just waken up.”

Is “waken up” correct?

• “Waken” is a verb, but it is rarely used as a phrasal verb with “up.” Standard usage: “I wakened at dawn,” not “I wakened up.”
• The phrase “waken up” appears in some dialects but is generally considered nonstandard.

What is the verb for waking up?

The most common verb is “wake up” (phrasal verb). The simple verb “wake” works too: “I wake at 7 AM.” Merriam‑Webster lists “wake” as the base form, with “woke” and “woken” as the irregular principal parts.

Which is grammatically incorrect: “I had just waken up” or “I had just woken up”?

• “I had just woken up” is standard. “I had just waken up” is widely considered incorrect because “waken” does not take a past participle “waken” – its past participle is “wakened.” (Merriam‑Webster usage note)

The pattern: English speakers mainly need to remember “woke” for simple past and “woken (up)” for perfect tenses. Everything else can cause confusion.

What is another word for Waking Up?

Depending on the shade of meaning, you have strong alternatives. Merriam‑Webster’s thesaurus lists synonyms including “awaken,” “rouse,” “stir,” “come to,” and “come around.” For the metaphorical sense, “enlightenment” and “awakening” are common.

What is a better word for woke up?

• Formal: “awoke,” “awakened” – e.g., “She awoke to the sound of birds.”
• Informal: “got up,” “rose” – e.g., “I got up at six.”
• Literary: “stirred,” “bestirred oneself.”

Why this matters: when writing about meditation or mindfulness, “awaken” often carries the right weight. The Waking Up app is deliberately named to invoke both meanings, as Waking Up (official site) notes that the app extends the ideas from Harris’s book on spirituality without religion.

Is Waking Up Sam Harris good?

The app enjoys strong user ratings: 4.9 stars on the Apple App Store (542K ratings) and 4.7 stars on Google Play (41.1K reviews), according to the respective store listings. It offers over 600 hours of audio from dozens of teachers (Waking Up content page). The annual subscription is $129.99, but the official scholarship page allows anyone who cannot afford membership to join for free (Waking Up scholarship page). The first 5 sessions are free after the free download (Apple App Store listing).

What do reviews say about the Waking Up app?

• A 2019 editorial review described the onboarding as a 28-day introductory course of 10-minute guided meditations (BardoBurner editorial review).
• A 2020 review reported the app was priced at $119.99 per year (later $129.99) and had previously offered a free 30-day trial (mindful.technology review).
• A 2022 study by Clearer Thinking found that 10% of participants who completed the Introductory Course showed evidence of learning the nondual skill under the strictest criteria (Clearer Thinking (research institute)).

Is the Waking Up app free?

The app is free to download, and the first 5 sessions are entirely free. A subscription costs $129.99 per year (monthly equivalent $10.83). However, Waking Up offers a scholarship for anyone who truly cannot afford it, granting full access at no cost (Waking Up scholarship page). There is also a money-back guarantee (Waking Up checkout).

Waking up: to cease sleeping; to become aware.

— Merriam‑Webster (dictionary authority)

One in ten participants who completed the Introductory Course appeared to learn the nondual skill successfully by its strictest criteria.

— Clearer Thinking (research institute)

For anyone trying to decide whether the Waking Up app is worth their time, the numbers make a strong case: high user satisfaction, a generous free option, and a growing library. The trade‑off is that its core teaching—nonduality—is not a quick fix for stress. It’s a sustained practice with a specific philosophical underpinning. For the audience that resonates with Harris’s work, the app is likely a fit; for those looking for a general relaxation tool, it may feel heavy.

What is my body telling me if I keep waking up at 3am?

Waking up at 3am is a common experience that can be linked to stress, sleep disorders, or circadian rhythm disruptions. The exact reasons are not fully understood, but multiple factors including sleep architecture may play a role.

Why do I keep waking up at 3am?

• Stress and anxiety can cause frequent awakenings.
• Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or insomnia.
• Circadian rhythm disruptions from irregular sleep schedules.

What can I do to stop waking up at 3am?

• Maintain a consistent sleep schedule.
• Reduce caffeine and screen time before bed.
• Practice relaxation techniques like meditation.

The pattern: while occasional early waking is normal, persistent issues should be discussed with a healthcare provider to rule out underlying conditions.

Related reading

• Jack Dorsey: Daily Routine, Net Worth & Irish Heritage – meditation and mindfulness are a known part of Dorsey’s daily routine.
• Red Bull: Caffeine, Sugar, Health Facts & Myths – a contrasting approach to “waking up” through stimulants vs. meditation.

For those curious about the app’s value, a detailed review of the app explores whether the guided skepticism justifies its subscription price.

Frequently asked questions