wake-up call
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The much-honored “Roots”—which ABC executives ran over eight nights in January 1977, because they thought it was going to bomb—was not only a ratings monster but a wake-up call about slavery in the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026
State regulators have launched an investigation into the incident, and some local officials have called it a wake-up call for communities like Boyle Heights, where homes are sandwiched close to industry and manufacturing districts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026
The real wake-up call came last year when China imposed export controls on rare earths, sending shockwaves across supply chains globally.
From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026
"It was a real wake-up call for the US," he says.
From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026
It was a wake-up call for all of us: As refugees in America, we were at the bottom of the heap.
From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
