awkward
AWK-wuhd
Awkward (adj) means causing or feeling embarrassment or discomfort, especially in a social situation. Example: “There was an awkward silence after his joke fell flat.”
adj
1
Causing or feeling embarrassment or discomfort, especially in a social situation.
"There was an awkward silence after his joke fell flat."
"She felt awkward meeting her ex at the party."
"It was awkward when two guests turned up wearing the same dress."
2
Clumsy or lacking skill in movement or use of the hands.
"He made an awkward attempt to catch the ball."
"The puppy was awkward on its long legs and kept tripping over its paws."
"She gave an awkward wave and dropped her keys on the pavement."
3
Difficult to deal with or handle.
"The sofa was an awkward shape to carry up the stairs."
"Getting the wardrobe round that awkward corner took us nearly an hour."
"It is an awkward question, and I do not know how to answer it."
How to use awkward
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUncomfortable, clumsy, or hard to manage.
Common pairings
awkward silence
awkward situation
feel awkward
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Word forms
- Plural
- awkwards
- Comparative
- more awkward
- Superlative
- most awkward
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
There was an _____ silence after his joke fell flat.
Etymology
From Middle English awke, "clumsy" + -ward.
Synonyms
View more →
clumsy
uncomfortable
ungainly
uneasy
gauche
cumbersome
embarrassing
sticky
inept
bunglesome
unenviable
inapt
Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “awkward” mean?
The word “awkward” means causing or feeling embarrassment or discomfort, especially in a social situation. In plain terms, uncomfortable, clumsy, or hard to manage.
How do you pronounce “awkward”?
“Awkward” is pronounced AWK-wuhd (/ˈɔk.wɚd/ in IPA).
How do you use “awkward” in a sentence?
Here is “awkward” used in a sentence: “There was an awkward silence after his joke fell flat.”
What part of speech is “awkward”?
“Awkward” is an adjective.
Where does the word “awkward” come from?
The word “awkward” comes from Middle English. From Middle English awke, "clumsy" + -ward.
Is “awkward” a common word?
“Awkward” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “awkward” have?
“Awkward” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: causing or feeling embarrassment or discomfort, especially in a social situation.
What is the difference between 'awkward' and 'clumsy'?
'Clumsy' usually refers to being physically ungraceful or prone to knocking things over, matching one sense of 'awkward' as lacking skill in movement. 'Awkward' has a wider range and also covers social embarrassment, as in an awkward silence, which 'clumsy' does not usually describe.
What is the difference between an 'awkward' and an 'embarrassing' situation?
An 'awkward' situation is uncomfortable, tense, or difficult to handle gracefully, and may feel strained without anyone being clearly at fault. 'Embarrassing' more strongly implies shame or self-consciousness about something that reflects badly on someone.
What words commonly go with 'awkward'?
Common pairings include 'awkward silence', 'awkward moment', 'awkward situation', 'socially awkward', and 'feel awkward'. In the physical sense you might describe an 'awkward angle' or 'awkward position'.
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