What are Get up and Wake up? The difference between Get up and Wake up

Content publishing rules

Get up and Wake up are both common phrasal verbs used in English. However, many people often confuse the meanings and usage of these two phrases. In today's article, let's explore all the relevant information about Get up and Wake up with PREP!

Differences between 2 words Get up and Wake up in English

I. What is Get up?
II. What is Wake up?
III. Differentiating Get up and Wake up
IV. Supplemental Content: FAQs to Master Wake Up vs Get Up
V. Exercises to differentiate Get up and Wake up

I. What is Get up?

What is Get up? In English, Get up is pronounced as /ɡet ʌp/ and functions as a phrasal verb with the following meanings:

Meaning 1: to stand up. For example: The whole audience got up and started clapping.
Meaning 2: to wake up and get out of bed, or to tell or help someone to do this. For example: I got up at five o'clock this morning!
Meaning 3: If the wind gets up, it starts to grow stronger. For example: The storm is getting up.

Phrases and idioms associated with Get up:

Phrases and idioms associated with Get up	Meaning	Example
Get-up-and-go	energy and determination to do things	This job needs someone with a lot of get-up-and-go.
Get togged up/ out	to be or get dressed for a particular occasion or activity	My mother is getting togged up for the party.
Get up steam	if an engine gets up steam, it gradually starts to go faster if plans, beliefs, etc. get up steam, they gradually become more important and more people become interested in them	The election campaign is getting up steam.
Get somebody’s dander up	to make someone angry	Peter is always getting his friend’s dander up.
Get somebody’s back up		Simone is always getting people’s backs up.
Get (right) up somebody’s nose		I wish Jack wouldn’t gets up my nose.
Get mixed up in something	to be involved in an illegal or dishonest activity	I’d have to be crazy to get mixed up in that kind of thing.
Get mixed up with somebody	to be involved with someone who has a bad influence on you	When Richard left college he got mixed up with the wrong people.
Get up a head of steam	to become very active after starting something slowly	He's getting up a head of steam for the upcoming competition.

II. What is Wake up?

What is Wake up? In English, Wake up is pronounced as /ˈweɪk.ʌp/ and functions as a phrasal verb with the following meanings:

Meaning 1: to stop sleeping. For example: Wake up! It's nine o'clock.
Meaning 2: to become more lively and interested. For example: Wake up and listen to music!

Phrases associated with Wake up:

Phrases associated with Wake up	Meaning	Example
Wake-up call	a telephone call made according to a prior arrangement to wake the person called/ a person or thing that causes people to become fully alert to an unsatisfactory situation and to take action to remedy it.	This should be a wake-up call to everyone.
Wake up and smell the coffee	become aware of the realities of a situation, however unpleasant.	Keep an eye on your friends, who may be using you - wake up and smell the coffee!
Wake up to something	to start to understand that a situation or problem exists	It’s time you woke up to the fact that it's a tough world.

III. Differentiating Get up and Wake up

What are the differences between Get up and Wake up? Let's refer to the table below with PREP!

Aspect	Wake Up	Get Up
Definition	Transition from sleep to consciousness	Physical action of rising from bed
Action Type	Mental/cognitive	Physical/movement
Location	Can happen while still in bed	Involves leaving the bed
Timing	Usually happens first	Happens after waking up
Grammar	Transitive/intransitive	Mainly intransitive
Object Usage	Can take objects ("wake me up")	Rarely takes objects directly
Example	"I wake up at 6:30 AM"	"I get up at 6:45 AM"
Metaphorical Use	Yes ("wake up to reality")	Limited metaphorical use

IV. Supplemental Content: FAQs to Master Wake Up vs Get Up

What exactly is a "phrasal verb," and why are "wake up" and "get up" examples of them?

A phrasal verb combines a main verb with particles to create new meanings. "Wake" means stop sleeping, but "wake up" emphasizes consciousness transition. "Get" means obtain, but "get up" specifically means rise from bed. These must be learned as complete units.

How does "arise" relate to "wake up" and "get up"? Is it always interchangeable?

"Arise" is formal/literary, combining elements of both phrases but not interchangeable in modern speech. Use it in formal writing or metaphorically ("problems arise"). In casual morning talk, it sounds overly formal.

Can I use "wake up" with an object, like "wake someone up"? When is that correct?

Yes, "wake up" takes objects when rousing someone else. With pronouns, place between verb parts: "wake me up." With nouns, both "wake up John" and "wake John up" work.

Besides "wake up" and "get up," what other words are commonly used when talking about mornings?

Common expressions include "rise and shine" (enthusiastic greeting), "roll out of bed" (lazy getting up), "early bird" (morning person), "hit the hay" (go to bed), and "catch some Z's" (get sleep).

V. Exercises to differentiate Get up and Wake up

To better understand what Wake up and Get up mean and how to accurately differentiate these two phrasal verbs, let's complete the exercises below with PREP!

Exercise: Fill in Wake up or Get up appropriately in the blanks (conjugate the verbs if necessary)

When do you usually _______ in the morning?
I _______ at 6 am today but I didn't _______ until 6:30.
I need to _______ early tomorrow so I can prepare for my job interview.
No matter what I do, my body always _______ at 5 o'clock in the morning.
I _______ late, so I missed my bus.
Why are you still in bed? _______! We're going to be late!
I was so tired when I _______ today.
I had a stomachache last night, but it was gone when I _______ this morning.
Are you going to _______ or stay in bed all day?
What time do you have to _______ tomorrow?

Answer:

Wake up/ Get up
Woke up - Get up
Wake up
Wakes up
Woke up
Get up
Woke up
Woke up
Get up
Wake up/ Get up

PREP hopes that this article has helped you understand the definitions, usage, and differences between Get up and Wake up. Keep following PREP to stay updated with more useful English knowledge!

Chloe

Product Content Admin

Hi I'm Chloe, and I am currently serving as an Product Content Administrator at Prep Education. With over five years of experience in independent online IELTS study and exam preparation, I am confident in my ability to support learners in achieving their highest possible scores.