awkward

There's an ocean of difference between the way people speak English in the US vs. the UK. Are your language skills up to the task of telling the difference? Let's find out!

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True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

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Origin of awkward

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, equivalent to awk(e), auk(e) “backhanded,” (unattested) Old English afoc (from Old Norse ǫfugr “turned the wrong way, backwards”; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German abuh “wrong, bad,” Old English afu(h)lic “perverse”) + -ward suffix denoting direction; see origin at off, -ward

OTHER WORDS FROM awkward

awk·ward·ly, adverbawk·ward·ness, nounun·awk·ward, adjectiveun·awk·ward·ly, adverb

un·awk·ward·ness, noun

Words nearby awkward

awheel, awhile, a while back, awhirl, whole new ballgame, a, awkward, awkward age, awl, awless, awl-shaped, awl snail

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use awkward in a sentence

It’s the first time I’ve read a book where every sentence is cowritten, and it didn’t feel awkward at all.
The best things I bought in September to make working and living at home easier|Rachel Schallom|September 27, 2020|Fortune
The painful consequence of that will be a clunky, suboptimal transposition of the physical to the virtual, right down—one fears—to an awkward videoconference cocktail hour.
Can the corporate ‘offsite’ survive COVID?|matthewheimer|September 24, 2020|Fortune
You can also stretch one app across both screens, but it’s unsightly and awkward to have your content sliced down the middle with a big blank bar.
Review of the Microsoft Surface Duo folding phone: Very pretty but just how useful is it?|Aaron Pressman|September 10, 2020|Fortune
The latest service disruptions come at an awkward time for Robinhood.
Robinhood app stumbles amid surge in Apple, Tesla trading volume|Jeff|September 1, 2020|Fortune

Except that it’ll be rooted in awkward, funny and compelling reality.
How Michaela Coel Tells Awkward Truths|Eromo Egbejule|August 30, 2020|Ozy
The squabble was also immortalized in this incredibly awkward family portrait.
Solange Smacks Jay Z, Legolas Slaps Bieber, and the Biggest Celebrity Feuds of the Year|Amy Zimmerman|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The rapper will.i.am was one such panelist, forced upon Gregory for an excruciatingly awkward roundtable segment.
David Gregory's 'Meet the Press' Eviction Exposed in Washingtonian Takedown|Lloyd Grove|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Some immediately treated the young rapper as a punchline, turning his awkward posture in the photo into a meme.
Bobby Shmurda and Rap’s Ultimate Hoop Dream|Rawiya Kameir|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He sketched it quickly, his hand trembling, giving the drawing an awkward, palsied look.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
By two-thirty on the first afternoon at his house, I long for a cup of coffee but feel awkward about asking.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The moment was an awkward one, and Cynthia wished madly that she had not been prompted to ask that unfortunate question.
The Boarded-Up House|Augusta Huiell Seaman
This was no strange sight to the boy by that time, but it was awkward in the circumstances, for he had neither gun nor spear.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
Finally, his predicament became so awkward that an expression of distress crept into his face.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
Meyer Isaacson said nothing; and, after a silence that was awkward, Nigel changed the conversation, and not long after went away.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
Perhaps that made it awkward for him, as he was not accustomed to having his wife in such close proximity with him daily.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux

British Dictionary definitions for awkward

awkward

/ (ˈɔːkwəd) /

adjective

lacking dexterity, proficiency, or skill; clumsy; ineptthe new recruits were awkward in their exercises

ungainly or inelegant in movements or posturedespite a great deal of practice she remained an awkward dancer

unwieldy; difficult to usean awkward implement

embarrassingan awkward moment

embarrassedhe felt awkward about leaving

difficult to deal with; requiring tactan awkward situation; an awkward customer

deliberately uncooperative or unhelpfulhe could help but he is being awkward

dangerous or difficultan awkward ascent of the ridge

obsolete perverse

Derived forms of awkward

awkwardly, adverbawkwardness, noun

Word Origin for awkward

C14 awk, from Old Norse öfugr turned the wrong way round + -ward

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

awkward

OTHER WORDS FOR awkward

OPPOSITES FOR awkward

Origin of awkward

OTHER WORDS FROM awkward

Words nearby awkward

Words related to awkward

How to use awkward in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for awkward

Derived forms of awkward

Word Origin for awkward