awe

[ aw ]

/ ɔ /

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See synonyms for: awe / awed on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

verb (used with object), awed, aw·ing.

to inspire with awe.

to influence or restrain by awe.

OTHER WORDS FOR awe

1 wonder, veneration.

See synonyms for awe on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR awe

1 apathy; contempt.

See antonyms for awe on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

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Origin of awe

1250–1300; Middle English aghe, awe<Scandinavian; compare Old Norse agi fear, cognate with Gothic agis,Old English ege,Greek áchos pain

OTHER WORDS FROM awe

outawe, verb (used with object), out·awed, out·aw·ing.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use awe in a sentence

Einstein had held it in his hand, and found himself trembling in awe.
When Einstein Tilted at Windmills - Issue 93: Forerunners|Amanda Gefter|November 18, 2020|Nautilus
So Morikawa’s practice rounds this week weren’t just to prepare to compete, but to get over the awe.
Who can win the Masters, who can but won’t and who to pick in your pool|Barry Svrluga|November 11, 2020|Washington Post
In the beginning, as a student of private equity, I was in awe of my mentors.
From mentorship to friendship to love: What I learned from three investing giants|matthewheimer|November 10, 2020|Fortune
After that, dispose of the solution, rinse the inside of your electric kettle, and stand in awe of your brand-new-looking appliance.
The one ingredient you need to clean the dishwasher and four other gross household items|Sandra Gutierrez G.|November 5, 2020|Popular-Science

I was in awe of the giants who roamed the hallways of our Time-Life Building offices.
A goodbye after 19 years|Adam Lashinsky|October 5, 2020|Fortune
"It is my father," said she, still standing in the way and awing him by the power of her beauty.
Harper's New Monthly Magazine Vol. IV, No. 19, Dec 1851|Various
Her faulty administration, moreover, drew the people into the crime, because she exasperated without sufficiently awing them.
The Revolt of The Netherlands, Complete|Friedrich Schiller
Nevertheless he paraded the Tory remainder of it, doubtless with the intention of awing the entire county.
The Little Red Foot|Robert W. Chambers
For the first time he saw the awing vastness of the desert, and the soft pastel shades which made their desolation beautiful.
'Me-Smith'|Caroline Lockhart
He had no capacity, whatever, for either awing or conciliating those with whom he came in contact.
With Clive in India|G. A. Henty

British Dictionary definitions for awe

awe

/ (ɔː) /

noun

overwhelming wonder, admiration, respect, or dread

archaic power to inspire fear or reverence

verb

(tr) to inspire with reverence or dread

Derived forms of awe

aweless or US awless, adjective

Word Origin for awe

C13: from Old Norse agi; related to Gothic agis fear, Greek akhesthai to be grieved

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012