Word
awful
Phoneticsaw·ful, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɑfəɫ/
UK/ˈɔːfəl/
Definitions
01very bad
A2 · Elementary
adj. extremely bad, unpleasant, or of very low quality.
adj. extremely disagreeable, objectionable, or of poor quality. While historically related to 'awe', it is now almost exclusively used for negative evaluation.
日本語:ひどい※
“The weather was awful yesterday, so we stayed inside all day.”
“The service at the restaurant was truly awful, with long delays and cold food that left the entire party disappointed.”
02large amount
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
adj. used to emphasize that an amount or number is very large.
adj. used as an intensifier to denote a large or significant quantity or degree.
“It took an awful lot of work to finish the project on time.”
“The renovation cost an awful lot of money, far exceeding the initial budget set by the homeowners.”
Synonyms
03very
B1 · Intermediate Informal · American English
adv. very or extremely.
adv. functioning as an intensifier equivalent to 'very' or 'extremely'.
“That was an awful long movie, but I enjoyed it.”
“The traffic was moving awful slow this morning, making most of the staff late for the meeting.”
Usage
Usually placed before an adjective.
Pitfall
He is awful nice.
He is awfully nice.
In formal writing, use the adverb 'awfully'. Using 'awful' as an adverb is common only in casual, spoken English.
04awe-inspiring
C2 · Proficiency Archaic · Literary
adj. something that makes you feel great respect or a little fear because it is so powerful.
adj. inspiring awe, profound reverence, or solemn dread. This sense is largely restricted to older literature and religious contexts.
“The mountain peak was an awful sight in the middle of the storm.”
“The poet described the awful majesty of the ocean, capturing both its terrifying power and its immense beauty.”
Teaching tip
Modern speakers use 'awesome' for this meaning; 'awful' in modern English is almost always negative.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “awful” in context.
Etymology
From Middle English agheful, awfull, auful, aȝefull, equivalent to awe + -ful. Compare Old English eġeful, eġefull (“terrifying; awful”). The “very bad” sense is a pejorative semantic shift from the original sense of “awe-inspiring”.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Idioms
01. something awful
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/awful
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0