ENGLISH
REFERENCE

awesome

adj.
US //ˈɑsəm// UK //ˈɔːsʌm// awe·some
  1. 1 excellent or great (adj.)
    A2 Elementary Informal

    very good, impressive, or enjoyable. You use this when you are excited about something.

    used as a general superlative to indicate excellence or high quality. Highly informal in register and common in spoken English.

    Example

    The concert last night was awesome and we had a great time.

    Example

    The special effects in the latest blockbuster were truly awesome, though the plot itself was somewhat predictable.

    Usage

    Commonly used as a one-word response to show agreement or excitement.

    Teacher's tip

    In modern conversation, this is a very common 'filler' word for anything positive; students should be careful not to use it in formal academic writing.
  2. 2 inspiring awe or power (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Literary Formal

    something so big, powerful, or beautiful that it makes you feel a little bit of fear or deep respect.

    inspiring awe; characterized by a quality that inspires profound admiration, reverence, or fear.

    Example

    The view from the top of the mountain was awesome and silent.

    Example

    The explorers stood in silence before the awesome power of the waterfall, feeling small against the scale of the natural world.

    Usage

    Often used to describe nature, vast landscapes, or divine power.
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