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.

"It was a real wake-up call for the US," he says.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

Tank bottoms at Cushing would be a wake-up call that inventories are dangerously low.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 6, 2026

Beijing’s ability to leverage its rare-earth-magnet dominance in trade negotiations was the latest wake-up call, as those inputs are used in everything from weapons systems to electric-vehicle motors.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

“After the recent tariffs on U.S. imports, the conflict represents another wake-up call to deploy new tools to make supply chains more resilient and develop new strategies to mitigate future disruptions,” the company said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 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