# awful

/ˈɑfəɫ/ (US) · /ˈɔːfəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/awful
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. very bad

adjective · CEFR A2

extremely bad, unpleasant, or of very low quality.

For teachers: extremely disagreeable, objectionable, or of poor quality. While historically related to 'awe', it is now almost exclusively used for negative evaluation.

- 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.

### 2. large amount

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

used to emphasize that an amount or number is very large.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. very

adverb · CEFR B1 · Informal · American English

very or extremely.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. awe-inspiring

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

something that makes you feel great respect or a little fear because it is so powerful.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The weather today is absolutely awful.
- I had an awful headache all morning and had to stay in bed with the lights off.
- The critics gave the play an awful review, claiming the script was repetitive and the lead actor's performance lacked any emotional depth.

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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.