# awe

/ˈɑ/ (US) · /ˈɔː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/awe
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. wonder and respect

noun · CEFR B2

a feeling of great respect and wonder, often because something is very beautiful, large, or powerful.

For teachers: a feeling of profound respect mixed with wonder, typically inspired by something majestic, sublime, or extremely powerful.

- We stood in awe as we looked up at the millions of stars in the night sky.
- The tourists gazed in silent awe at the ancient cathedral, overwhelmed by the scale of the architecture and the history it represented.

### 2. fearful respect

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a feeling of respect mixed with fear, usually toward someone with great power.

For teachers: a sense of solemn wonder or dread inspired by authority or divine power.

- The soldiers held their commander in awe and never questioned his orders.
- In many ancient texts, the gods are described as beings that inspire both love and a terrifying awe in their followers.

## Examples

- The sight of the Grand Canyon filled us with awe.
- The young students watched in silent awe as the astronaut described her journey to the moon.
- Standing beneath the ancient cathedral's vaulted ceiling, he felt a profound sense of awe that made his own worries seem insignificant in comparison.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.