ENGLISH
REFERENCE

awe

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɑ// UK //ˈɔː// awe Archaic

n. a feeling of great respect mixed with fear or wonder. You feel this when you see something incredibly large, powerful, or beautiful.

n. a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder, often inspired by the sublime or the immense.


SIMPLE

The sight of the Grand Canyon filled us with awe.

CONTEXTUAL

The young students watched in silent awe as the astronaut described her journey to the moon.

COMPLEX

Standing beneath the ancient cathedral's vaulted ceiling, he felt a profound sense of awe that made his own worries seem insignificant in comparison.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English aw, awe, agh, awȝe, borrowed from Old Norse agi, from Proto-Germanic agaz (“terror, dread”), from Proto-Indo-European h₂egʰ- (“to be upset, afraid”). Displaced native Middle English eye, eyȝe, ayȝe, eȝȝe, from Old English ege, æge (“fear, terror, dread”), from the same Proto-Germanic root.

Etymology 2

From French auve.

Usage

Commonly used in the phrase 'in awe of' or 'filled with awe'.

Pitfall

I was in awe for the viewI was in awe of the viewThe noun 'awe' takes the preposition 'of' when describing the source of the feeling.

© 2026 English Reference