overawe
Americanverb (used with object)
-
overawes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
overawed,
past participle, past
-
overawing
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
overawesimple
-
overawessimple
-
have overawedperfect
-
has overawedperfect
-
am overawingprogressive
-
are overawingprogressive
-
is overawingprogressive
-
have been overawingperfect progressive
-
has been overawingperfect progressive
Past
-
overawedsimple
-
had overawedperfect
-
was overawingprogressive
-
were overawingprogressive
-
had been overawingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of overawe
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.
See Examples For:
Since conversion was thought to excuse conquest, these devotional artworks had to overawe their viewers.
From New York Times ● Oct. 27, 2022
The West is more immediate and can still overawe the spectator with substantial remnants of its old annihilating grandeur.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 9, 2017
Hoping to overawe the people of the land, Lewis would let out a blast of his air rifle, a relatively new piece of technology the Native Americans had never seen.
From Textbooks ● Dec. 30, 2014
They have not quite matched the show sometimes given by workers at the Venetian arsenal, who would assemble a galley in a single day in order to overawe visiting foreign dignitaries.
From Economist ● May 16, 2013
Jonathan’s impetuosity, and the manifest singleness of his purpose, seemed to overawe those in front of him; instinctively they cowered, aside and let him pass.
From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
In the same way, these young people live in the light of the history of cinema, of the great age of Hollywood and the classic European cinema that also overarches and overawes the moderns.
From The New Yorker ● Oct. 29, 2014
"The building is a personal statement by Rudolph," he says, "and it overawes a student who is looking for a place to make his own personal statement."
From Time Magazine Archive
He who overawes the nations, In thy mighty noise confessed, Groaned and sighed with troubled spirit, By our guilt and sin oppressed.
From Favourite Welsh Hymns Translated into English by Joseph Morris
An excess of audacity calms and overawes him rather than irritates him.
From The Philippine Islands by John Foreman
It is the prompt enforcement of criminal law that gives it moral force and overawes the offender.
From Nature and Culture by Harvey Rice
Chelsea, winners of the past six WSL seasons and the current holders of all three domestic titles, looked like a team in headlights, completed overawed by City.
From BBC ● Feb. 1, 2026
Thirdly, Djokovic knows his aura - as well as his game - has overawed Musetti in the past, ensuring he remains the favourite to reach the last four.
From BBC ● Jan. 27, 2026
Former captain Jamie George says England should embrace the occasion and not be overawed by New Zealand's reputation.
From BBC ● Nov. 10, 2025
Both are experienced, so are unlikely to be overawed if called upon.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2025
A moment later, I spotted the young Mr Cardinal not far away, still standing on his own, and it struck me the young gentleman might be feeling somewhat overawed in the present company.
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
For some young players, the attention might be overawing.
From BBC ● May 30, 2025
The first album I'd ever bought was Ziggy Stardust and I owned all his others, so it was overawing, but he was really generous as a performer.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 23, 2013
Nowhere among these republics have great military establishments ever been maintained for the purpose of overawing or subjugating other nations.
From Time Magazine Archive
The Europe through which his couple move is one of soft colors, handsome but not overawing.
From Time Magazine Archive
I gave it as my opinion that the troops, so far from overawing, were exasperating the populace.
From The Red Hand of Ulster by George A. Birmingham
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
