wake-up call

noun

1
: something (such as a telephone call from a hotel employee to a guest) that serves to wake a sleeper
2
: something that serves to alert a person to a problem, danger, or need
a wake-up call to parents

Examples of wake-up call in a Sentence

his high blood pressure was a wake-up call that he needed to do something about his health
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Our editor noted that the delicate tinkling makes for a very pleasant wake-up call and adds a calming ambiance when hanging out in the backyard on a gently breezy day. Kate McGregor, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Mar. 2023 The film’s success, argues culture minister Claudia Roth, should be a wake-up call for an overly-restrictive and bureaucratic film funding system that privileges theatrical releases even as fewer and fewer Germans are watching movies in cinemas. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2023 Really, this is both your wake-up call and a call to action. Victoria Zambito, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2023 The rising autism numbers presented by our CDC should be a wake-up call — there are a lot of us, and what’s truly increasing is the cost of ignoring our needs. John Elder Robison, STAT, 23 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for wake-up call 

Word History

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wake-up call was in 1974

Dictionary Entries Near wake-up call

Cite this Entry

“Wake-up call.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wake-up%20call. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

wake-up call

noun
1
: something (as a telephone call from a hotel employee to a guest) that serves to wake up a sleeper
2
: something that serves to alert a person to a problem, danger, or need

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