awesome
AW-suhm
Awesome (adj) means Extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring a sense of wonder. Example: “We stood in silence, struck by the awesome power of the waterfall.”
adj
1
Extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring a sense of wonder.
"We stood in silence, struck by the awesome power of the waterfall."
"The astronauts described the awesome emptiness of space as both beautiful and frightening."
"The awesome scale of the canyon left them speechless."
2
informal: Excellent; really great.
"Thanks for helping me move, you guys are awesome!"
"That concert was awesome!"
"She did an awesome job on the presentation."
How to use awesome
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither genuinely awe-inspiring, or (much more commonly today) just "really good".
When to use it
The casual "excellent" sense is informal — avoid it in formal writing.
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more awesome, awesomer
- Superlative
- most awesome, awesomest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We stood in silence, struck by the _____ power of the waterfall.
Etymology
From awe + -some. The informal "excellent" sense became especially popular in American English from the mid-20th century onward.
Class of 1900
awesome joined the language around 1900.
See the full Class of 1900 →
Synonyms
View more →
breathtaking
stunning
amazing
astounding
awe-inspiring
awful
sensational
awesomesauce
based
beatific
bewildering
blissful
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for awesome
See all rhymes for awesome →Frequently asked questions
What does “awesome” mean?
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".
How do you pronounce “awesome”?
“Awesome” is pronounced AW-suhm (/ˈɔ.səm/ in IPA).
How do you use “awesome” in a sentence?
Here is “awesome” used in a sentence: “The awesome scale of the canyon left them speechless.”
What is another word for “awesome”?
Words with a similar meaning to “awesome” include amazing, astounding, awe-inspiring, awful, sensational and awesomesauce.
What is the opposite of “awesome”?
The opposite of “awesome” — its antonyms — are horrible, horrific, terrible and mediocre.
What part of speech is “awesome”?
“Awesome” is an adjective.
Where does the word “awesome” come from?
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.
Is “awesome” a common word?
“Awesome” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between awesome and awful?
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.
Is awesome formal or informal?
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.
What is the original meaning of awesome?
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.
What is an example of awesome?
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.
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