Idiom: in the wake of something

Meaning

Idiom: in the wake of something

happening after something
happening as a result of something (usually something bad)

A man is standing at the rear of the boat with his arms stretched out enjoying the breeze from a boat. The wake is visible behind the boat as a stream of white water and waves.

Note: What is a wake?

A wake is the track a boat creates behind it as it moves through water. In this photo, you can see the wake with the white path of water and waves behind the boat.

So the first definition of this idiom means happening after something (moving in the same path or traveling close behind something).

In addition, a wake produces waves. Other boats and objects can be negatively affected or endangered by the wakes of a boat. In this sense, the idiom in the wake of something, describes something happening as a result or consequence of something (usually something that is bad or negative).

Example sentences

In the wake of rioting after championship games, the police have increased security for the Super Bowl.

My mother has been living with us in the wake of my father’s death.

The coach was fired in the wake of the 0-63 loss at the last football game.

In the wake of her first Wimbledon championship, Maria Sharapova received enormous sponsorship opportunities.

Many people lost their homes in the wake of the financial crisis.

In the wake of the earthquake, rescuers brought in 15 search dogs to look for survivors.

In the wake of the latest shooting, almost 50 parents decided to start homeschooling their children.

Social inequality has increased dramatically in the wake of climate change and environmental degradation.

In the wake of the most recent mass school shooting, gun sales have spiked once again as gun owners fear tighter gun control measures.

Many airport security procedures were put in place in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

In the wake of the hurricane, there was a lot of looting at stores for essential supplies.

In the wake of the election of Donald Trump as president, a large number of women have entered politics as Democratic candidates for office.
Many countries grounded the Boeing 737 MAX airplane in the wake of two plane crashes within five months.

Synonyms

in the aftermath of
on account of
as a consequence of

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