awe

[ aw ]

noun

1. 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.

   Synonyms: veneration, wonder

   Antonyms: contempt, apathy

2. Archaic. power to inspire fear or reverence.
3. Obsolete. fear or dread.

verb (used with object)

, awed, aw·ing.

1. to inspire with awe.
2. to influence or restrain by awe.

awe

/ ɔː /

noun

1. overwhelming wonder, admiration, respect, or dread
2. archaic.
   power to inspire fear or reverence

verb

1. tr to inspire with reverence or dread

Derived Forms

• ˈaweless, adjective

Other Words From

• outawe verb (used with object) outawed outawing

Word History and Origins

Origin of awe¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English aghe, awe, from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse agi “fear,” cognate with Gothic agis, Old English ege, Greek áchos “pain”

Word History and Origins

Origin of awe¹

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

Example Sentences

Donald Trump is moving very quickly with his “shock and awe” plans to rule as an autocrat who views multiracial pluralistic democracy and its system of checks and balance as an impediment to his power.

From Salon

“I got three words for them – shock and awe,” he said in an interview with Donald Trump Jr. earlier this week.

From Salon

Like so many other boys his age on the islands, he watched Marcus Mariota at Oregon and Tua Tagovailoa at Alabama with a sense of awe and wonder.

From Los Angeles Times

"We are in absolute awe of Alfred," Ms Gunston said.

From BBC

We listened in rapt, reverential awe, cozied by Vienna’s velvet strings, velvet winds and velvet brass woven together in a perfect tapestry of lush sonic textures and instrumental colors.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• alarm
• astonish
• daunt
• dazzle
• flabbergast
• frighten
• horrify
• impress
• intimidate
• scare
• startle
• stun
• stupefy
• terrify