awful

The word “awful” means very bad or unpleasant. In plain terms, very bad, or (informally) used to mean "extremely".

“Awful” is pronounced AW-fuul (/ˈɔːfʊl/ in IPA).

Here is “awful” used in a sentence: “The weather was awful all weekend.”

Depending on how it is used, “awful” can be an adjective and an adverb.

The word “awful” comes from Middle English. From Middle English aweful, "awe-inspiring" (awe + -ful). The modern negative sense developed as a shift from "awe-inspiring" to simply "very bad".

“Awful” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Awful” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: very bad or unpleasant.

Both come from the word awe, but they have drifted to opposite meanings. Awful now means very bad or unpleasant, while awesome means extremely good or impressive. Centuries ago awful could mean full of awe, and thus awe-inspiring, but that sense has faded. Today awful is firmly negative and awesome firmly positive.

The opposite is a strongly positive word such as wonderful, excellent, or superb. If you mean pleasant rather than unpleasant, lovely or delightful work well. The right choice depends on what you are describing: awful weather turns to glorious weather, while an awful meal becomes a delicious one.

Historically, yes. Awful once described things that filled people with awe: powerful, majestic, even frightening. Over time it narrowed to mean simply very bad. That older sense survives faintly in phrases like an awful lot, where awful just intensifies. In everyday modern use, though, awful means unpleasant or dreadful.