awfully
Americanadverb
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very; extremely.
That was awfully nice of you. He's awfully slow.
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in a manner provoking censure, disapproval, or the like.
She behaved awfully all evening.
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Archaic.
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in a manner inspiring awe.
shouting awfully the dreaded curse.
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in a manner expressing awe.
to stare awfully.
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adverb
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in an unpleasant, bad, or reprehensible manner
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informal (intensifier)
I'm awfully keen to come
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archaic so as to express or inspire awe
Commonly Confused
See awful.
Etymology
Origin of awfully
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s high season in Palm Beach, Fla., and for some bold male dressers, that means awfully bright trousers, worn with a wink.
The cab was beginning to feel awfully tight.
From Literature
“It was awfully kind of you to rearrange your schedule to help me, Theo, when my aunt realized she couldn’t bring it herself, Theo, even though it would mean you canceling other plans.”
From Literature
“If you install a brand new faucet above the bathtub,” he said, “it is awfully easy to open up the valve a little bit more every year.”
“But so far nothing too creepy has happened. I mean, it’s awfully dark outside at night. No weird noises, though, aside from creaking, popping, and pipe gurgle.”
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
