/ əˈweɪkənɪŋ; NAmE / noun
1.
[ C , usually sing. ] an occasion when you realize sth or become aware of sth :
If they had expected a warm welcome, they were in for a rude awakening (= they would soon realize that it would not be warm) .
2.
[ C , U ] the act of beginning to understand or feel sth; the act of sth starting or waking :
sexual awakening
the awakening of interest in the environment