awed
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
- awedly adverb
- awedness noun
- unawed adjective
Etymology
Origin of awed
Explanation
When you're awed by something, you're amazed and maybe a little bit intimidated by it. The first time kids see a fireworks display, they're often awed by it. The first time you visit a big city, you might wander around looking up at the skyscrapers with an awed expression on your face. When you're awed, you're full of wonder that's tinged with fear or confusion. It's generally big, impressive things that leave you awed. A new father holding his baby might be awed, for example. Awed comes from awe, "amazement," which has a Scandinavian root and is related to the Old Norse word agi, or "fright."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Meagan’s awed expressions clearly demonstrated that as much as you know a place, you can always find more to amaze you.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025
Lawrence’s childhood home—the narrator is awed and cowed by the impossibly delicate stemware and casual references to “Finnegan’s Wake.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025
Mason and Salli Slaughter, his wife, interviewed Robbins in his home in 2011 and were charmed as much by his playfulness as they were awed by stories from his past.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2025
Millions were awed by his award show performances, bought his albums, flaunted his fashions and allowed all that to distract us from the warning signs that seeped into plain view and were ignored.
From Salon • Jan. 27, 2025
He drew them away, and Frank couldn’t help-being awed by his bold strategy.
From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
