Word
awkward
Phoneticsawk·ward, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɑkwɝd/
UK/ˈɔːkwəd/
Definitions
01socially uncomfortable
B1 · Intermediate
adj. feeling embarrassed or not knowing what to say in a social situation.
adj. characterised by social discomfort, embarrassment, or a lack of social grace.
“There was an awkward silence after he told a joke that nobody understood.”
“The dinner party became increasingly awkward when the host and hostess began a heated argument in front of their guests.”
Synonyms
02difficult to handle
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. hard to use, move, or deal with because of its shape or size.
adj. difficult to use, manage, or manipulate due to physical shape, weight, or logistical complexity.
“It was an awkward box to carry up the stairs because it had no handles.”
“The piano proved to be an awkward piece of furniture to move, requiring three people just to navigate the narrow hallway.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03clumsy movement
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. moving in a way that is not smooth or graceful.
adj. lacking physical coordination or grace in movement or posture.
“The young bird made an awkward attempt to fly for the first time.”
“He felt awkward and self-conscious on the dance floor, convinced that his movements were stiff compared to the others.”
04inconvenient
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. happening at a time or in a way that causes problems.
adj. causing difficulty or inconvenience; ill-timed.
“I'm sorry to call at such an awkward hour, but I really need your help.”
“The meeting was scheduled at an awkward time, forcing several department heads to cancel their existing appointments.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “awkward” in context.
Verb
01. avoid an awkward situation
“He left the party early to avoid an awkward situation with his boss.”
verb + noun
02. feel awkward
“She began to feel awkward when she noticed everyone was staring at her.”
verb + adj
Adjective
03. awkward for someone
“It was awkward for him to work in the same office as his ex-girlfriend.”
adj + prep
04. awkward silence
“There was an awkward silence after he made the inappropriate joke.”
adj + noun
05. awkward to handle
“The large, heavy box was very awkward to handle by myself.”
adj + infinitive
06. terribly awkward
“I felt terribly awkward when I realized I was the only one wearing a costume.”
adv + adj
Noun
07. awkward angle
“He fell at an awkward angle and twisted his ankle during the game.”
adj + noun
08. awkward phase
“Most teenagers go through an awkward phase where they feel uncomfortable in their own skin.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“Its move follows years of complaints from passengers, who said that relying on personal devices left them with drained batteries, awkward viewing angles, and patchy Wi-Fi.” “As mentioned above, it’s very heavy and awkward to move, making it difficult, if not impossible, to bring into an apartment or house if there’s no garage.” Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó Proto-Indo-European *h₃ekʷ- Proto-Indo-European *h₂époh₃kʷos Proto-Germanic *abuhaz Old Norse ǫfugrder. Middle English awke English awk Proto-Indo-European *wert-der. Proto-Germanic *wardaz Old English -weard English -ward English awkward From awk (“odd, clumsy”) + -ward. Compare Middle English aukeward (“in the wrong direction”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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