awe
- an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like: in awe of God; in awe of great political figures.
- Archaic. power to inspire fear or reverence.
- Obsolete. fear or dread.
- to inspire with awe.
- to influence or restrain by awe.
Origin of awe
Synonyms for awe
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comAntonyms for awe
Related Words for awe
admiration, dread, apprehension, horror, shock, esteem, astonishment, reverence, terror, consternation, wonderment, wonder, dazzle, intimidate, frighten, alarm, stupefy, impress, startle, astonishExamples from the Web for awe
Contemporary Examples of awe
The shared feelings, the bubbling emotion, the awe: she became an experience.
Bow Down, Bitches: How Beyoncé Turned an Elevator Brawl Into a Perfect YearKevin Fallon
December 31, 2014
In the art world, sex can be the ultimate attention-grabber, one of the best forms of shock and awe.
He was in awe of Tel Aviv, a gay-friendly city with Pride parades rivaling those in Berlin and Amsterdam.
I watched in awe as he virtually caromed off the walls of the classrooms and hallways.
Robin Williams and Christopher Reeve's Epic Friendship and the Greatest Williams Story Ever ToldMarlow Stern
August 12, 2014
As usual, I spent most of my time in awe of my fellow cosplaying women.
Historical Examples of awe
With an undefined feeling of awe, she looked in the countenance of her friend.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
"Heads for her, tails for me," he said, with some awe in his tone.
You did not like to look at it, and you could not meet it without unpleasantness and awe.
Besides, she did not stand in awe of Gilder, as did the others in his service.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
With all his masterfulness he was very considerably in awe of Miss Allis.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
awe
- overwhelming wonder, admiration, respect, or dread
- archaic power to inspire fear or reverence
- (tr) to inspire with reverence or dread
Word Origin for awe
Word Origin and History for awe
c.1300, earlier aghe, c.1200, from a Scandinavian source, e.g. Old Norse agi "fright;" from Proto-Germanic *agiz- (cf. Old English ege "fear," Old High German agiso "fright, terror," Gothic agis "fear, anguish"), from PIE *agh-es- (cf. Greek akhos "pain, grief"), from root *agh- "to be depressed, be afraid" (see ail). Current sense of "dread mixed with veneration" is due to biblical use with reference to the Supreme Being. Awe-inspiring is recorded from 1814.