adj
awry
uh-REYE
Awry (adj) means Turned or twisted to one side; crooked or out of the expected position. Example: “His tie was awry after the long flight.”
adj
1
Turned or twisted to one side; crooked or out of the expected position.
"His tie was awry after the long flight."
adv
1
Wrongly; off course; not as planned.
"Their plans went awry when the flight was cancelled."
How to use awry
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCrooked, or (more often) not going according to plan.
Common pairings
go awry
plans went awry
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like awry.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more awry
- Superlative
- most awry
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His tie was _____ after the long flight.
Etymology
From Middle English awry — a- + wry.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “awry” mean?
The word “awry” means turned or twisted to one side; crooked or out of the expected position. In plain terms, crooked, or (more often) not going according to plan.
How do you pronounce “awry”?
“Awry” is pronounced uh-REYE (/əˈɹaɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “awry” in a sentence?
Here is “awry” used in a sentence: “His tie was awry after the long flight.”
What part of speech is “awry”?
Depending on how it is used, “awry” can be an adjective and an adverb.
Where does the word “awry” come from?
The word “awry” comes from Middle English. From Middle English awry — a- + wry.
How many meanings does “awry” have?
“Awry” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: turned or twisted to one side; crooked or out of the expected position.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include awry:
