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

These paths inspire awe because the labor required to construct them is almost unfathomable.

From Outside Online

I stand in awe of what these women have witnessed and endured, given to the world and left as their legacies.

From Washington Post

When he jogged back downcourt, he did so open-mouthed — in mock awe of himself.

From Washington Post

If you’ve been to the Capitol even once, you remember the awe that you felt when you entered the building.

From Washington Blade

Doyle consistently strikes just the right tone of awe and reverence for his subjects.

From Outside Online

The shared feelings, the bubbling emotion, the awe: she became an experience.

From The Daily Beast

John Luther Adams lives up to the title of his composition, capturing an oceanic torrent of sound in an awe-inspiring performance.

From The Daily Beast

In the art world, sex can be the ultimate attention-grabber, one of the best forms of shock and awe.

From The Daily Beast

He was in awe of Tel Aviv, a gay-friendly city with Pride parades rivaling those in Berlin and Amsterdam.

From The Daily Beast

I watched in awe as he virtually caromed off the walls of the classrooms and hallways.

From The Daily Beast

Struck with surprise, the dead silence of profound awe, for an instant stilled the whole assembly.

From Project Gutenberg

It was very unfortunate that the whole establishment stood in unaffected awe of the redoubted Mr Bellamy.

From Project Gutenberg

Awe stole upon him; he felt himself included in the great ideal of this older day.

From Project Gutenberg

The bishop answered, that the awe of seeing before him so great and wise a prince made him afraid to trust himself.

From Project Gutenberg

Ye told me that he only kepit twa sairvents: a cook, hoosekeper, who lived awe', an' a man—a foreigner?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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