awesome

The word “awesome” means extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring a sense of wonder. In plain terms, either genuinely awe-inspiring, or (much more commonly today) just "really good".

“Awesome” is pronounced AW-suhm (/ˈɔ.səm/ in IPA).

Here is “awesome” used in a sentence: “The awesome scale of the canyon left them speechless.”

Words with a similar meaning to “awesome” include amazing, astounding, awe-inspiring, awful, sensational and awesomesauce.

The opposite of “awesome” — its antonyms — are horrible, horrific, terrible and mediocre.

“Awesome” is an adjective.

The word “awesome” dates back to around 1900. From awe + -some. The informal "excellent" sense became especially popular in American English from the mid-20th century onward.

“Awesome” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

Both come from "awe," yet they have drifted apart. "Awesome" now usually means extremely impressive or excellent, a strong compliment. "Awful" once meant "full of awe" too, but has come to mean very bad or unpleasant. So an awesome meal delights you, while an awful one does not.

It depends on the meaning. In its everyday sense of "great" or "fantastic," awesome is informal and very common in casual speech, especially American English. In its older, stronger sense of inspiring genuine awe — an awesome display of power — it is perfectly suitable for formal writing.

Originally, awesome meant "inspiring awe" — filling someone with wonder, reverence or even dread at something vast or powerful. A thunderstorm or a towering mountain might be called awesome in this sense. Only in recent decades has the casual meaning of simply "very good" become the everyday use.

A breathtaking view from a mountaintop, a spectacular firework display, or a stunning athletic performance might all be described as awesome. In casual speech people also use it for anything they think is great — an awesome film, an awesome idea, or an awesome day out with friends.