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: an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder that is inspired by authority or by the sacred or sublime
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Noun
Clem gasped in awe. Inches from the shelf stood a column of scrimshaw the likes of which he'd never seen.
Al Michaud, Fantasy & Science Fiction, March 2005
I expected to be impressed by Machu Picchu, but now that we're here, standing in the clouds atop the world, I'm more than impressed—I'm in awe. Machu Picchu is actually better than photographs suggest, more a timeless way station than archaeological ruin.
Patrick J. Kelly, Traveler, May/June 2005
Organs began to appear in American churches early in the eighteenth century. Their glorious tones promised to harmonize cacophonous congregational singers and to inspire worshippers with a reverential sense of awe, bestirring them to moral improvement.
Jonathan D. Sarna, American Judaism, 2004
It was a sight that filled me with awe and reverence.
a person who inspires feelings of awe in others
Verb
We stood at an impasse. If she thought she was getting my bags, she was nuts. I was still awed that they had actually made it through baggage claim in one piece; there was no way I was parting with them now.
Helene Cooper, The House At Sugar Beach, 2008
Most relative neophytes are so awed by having been accepted into the priesthood of specialty medicine and so reluctant to cause themselves trouble in the institutions in which they will work for the coming decades that they would be hesitant to risk offending their seniors.
Sherwin B. Nuland, New York Review of Books, 18 July 2002
But even non-birders cannot help but be awed by the significance of the habitat. All around us creatures dart and dive; birds attracted by fish and water, birds drawn by seeds and chaff. Birds with silly names: loons, boobies, cuckoos, goatsuckers.
Clara Jeffery, Harper's, November 2002
Her style both awes and perplexes me.
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Al Michaud, Fantasy & Science Fiction, March 2005
I expected to be impressed by Machu Picchu, but now that we're here, standing in the clouds atop the world, I'm more than impressed—I'm in awe. Machu Picchu is actually better than photographs suggest, more a timeless way station than archaeological ruin.
Patrick J. Kelly, Traveler, May/June 2005
Organs began to appear in American churches early in the eighteenth century. Their glorious tones promised to harmonize cacophonous congregational singers and to inspire worshippers with a reverential sense of awe, bestirring them to moral improvement.
Jonathan D. Sarna, American Judaism, 2004
It was a sight that filled me with awe and reverence.
a person who inspires feelings of awe in others
Verb
We stood at an impasse. If she thought she was getting my bags, she was nuts. I was still awed that they had actually made it through baggage claim in one piece; there was no way I was parting with them now.
Helene Cooper, The House At Sugar Beach, 2008
Most relative neophytes are so awed by having been accepted into the priesthood of specialty medicine and so reluctant to cause themselves trouble in the institutions in which they will work for the coming decades that they would be hesitant to risk offending their seniors.
Sherwin B. Nuland, New York Review of Books, 18 July 2002
But even non-birders cannot help but be awed by the significance of the habitat. All around us creatures dart and dive; birds attracted by fish and water, birds drawn by seeds and chaff. Birds with silly names: loons, boobies, cuckoos, goatsuckers.
Clara Jeffery, Harper's, November 2002
Her style both awes and perplexes me.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Joshua Sokol, The Atlantic, 21 Nov. 2022
For many Black residents across Los Angeles, Bass’ ceiling-shattering victory over billionaire businessman Rick Caruso was both awe-inspiring and cathartic.
Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2022
His reputation as one of classical music’s most fearsome technical pianists is decades-old, though no less awe-inspiring is the breadth of his repertoire, which ranges from C.P.E Bach to Morton Feldman.
Luke Schulze, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Nov. 2022
But then, Homewood senior quarterback Woods Ray transformed from being impressive to being downright awe-inspiring.
Randy Kennedy, al, 19 Nov. 2022
Across the universe An awe-inspiring new image from the James Webb Space Telescope shows the gas and dust released by a chaotic newborn star.
Ashley Strickland, CNN, 19 Nov. 2022
Its flickering shadows, creeping mosses and shrouds of ethereal mist have enraptured pilgrims and seekers since antiquity, and the region’s awe-inspiring tranquillity has come to embody the long commingling of Shinto and Buddhist traditions.
Michael Snyder, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2022
Good for kids or kids at heart, though just about anyone will be enthralled by the 204 pages of awe-inspiring LEGO creations and step-by-step instructions on how to create them.
Ysolt Usigan, Woman's Day, 14 Nov. 2022
Imagine spending every day following one of the most iconic, awe-inspiring trails on Earth and having your gear, a hot meal, and a cold beverage, waiting for you at the end of each day.
Outside Online, 14 Nov. 2022
Jessica Bartlett, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2022
There was horror at the scale of destruction, and awe at the bravery and kindness that rose to meet it.
Jon Meacham, Town & Country, 30 Oct. 2022
Perhaps the final properties of thirst, once quenched, are gratitude for the resolution – and awe at overcoming the challenge.
Erin Douglass, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Oct. 2022
And Chairman Powell and his cohorts have promised more shock and awe ahead, should inflation gauges exceed targets.
Roger Conrad, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2022
Among its many benefits, Keltner has found, awe diminishes the sense of self.
Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2022
Not Beyoncé — her albums shimmer as rare visitations from the heavens, meant to awe and inspire.
BostonGlobe.com, 11 Aug. 2022
On vacation with her family in Jamaica, Ralph gasped into her phone as her son filmed her shock and awe unfolding in real time.
Caroline Framke, Variety, 5 Aug. 2022
The odds are that there will still be attempts to shock and awe by exaggerations concerning AI in the most unashamedly outrageous terms.
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 12 June 2022
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Noun
In that case, the origin of awe-inspiring creatures on islands drives us to consider the incipient sixth mass extinction.
Joshua Sokol, The Atlantic, 21 Nov. 2022
For many Black residents across Los Angeles, Bass’ ceiling-shattering victory over billionaire businessman Rick Caruso was both awe-inspiring and cathartic.
Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2022
His reputation as one of classical music’s most fearsome technical pianists is decades-old, though no less awe-inspiring is the breadth of his repertoire, which ranges from C.P.E Bach to Morton Feldman.
Luke Schulze, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Nov. 2022
But then, Homewood senior quarterback Woods Ray transformed from being impressive to being downright awe-inspiring.
Randy Kennedy, al, 19 Nov. 2022
Across the universe An awe-inspiring new image from the James Webb Space Telescope shows the gas and dust released by a chaotic newborn star.
Ashley Strickland, CNN, 19 Nov. 2022
Its flickering shadows, creeping mosses and shrouds of ethereal mist have enraptured pilgrims and seekers since antiquity, and the region’s awe-inspiring tranquillity has come to embody the long commingling of Shinto and Buddhist traditions.
Michael Snyder, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2022
Good for kids or kids at heart, though just about anyone will be enthralled by the 204 pages of awe-inspiring LEGO creations and step-by-step instructions on how to create them.
Ysolt Usigan, Woman's Day, 14 Nov. 2022
Imagine spending every day following one of the most iconic, awe-inspiring trails on Earth and having your gear, a hot meal, and a cold beverage, waiting for you at the end of each day.
Outside Online, 14 Nov. 2022
Verb
Initially, going to work felt exciting and awe inspiring.
Jessica Bartlett, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2022
There was horror at the scale of destruction, and awe at the bravery and kindness that rose to meet it.
Jon Meacham, Town & Country, 30 Oct. 2022
Perhaps the final properties of thirst, once quenched, are gratitude for the resolution – and awe at overcoming the challenge.
Erin Douglass, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Oct. 2022
And Chairman Powell and his cohorts have promised more shock and awe ahead, should inflation gauges exceed targets.
Roger Conrad, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2022
Among its many benefits, Keltner has found, awe diminishes the sense of self.
Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2022
Not Beyoncé — her albums shimmer as rare visitations from the heavens, meant to awe and inspire.
BostonGlobe.com, 11 Aug. 2022
On vacation with her family in Jamaica, Ralph gasped into her phone as her son filmed her shock and awe unfolding in real time.
Caroline Framke, Variety, 5 Aug. 2022
The odds are that there will still be attempts to shock and awe by exaggerations concerning AI in the most unashamedly outrageous terms.
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 12 June 2022
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'awe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English aw, awe, ahe "terror, dread, extreme reverence, veneration, something to be feared, danger," borrowed from Old Norse agi, accusative aga "terror, uproar," n-stem derivative from a Germanic base *ag- seen in the s-stem noun *agaz (whence Old English ege "fear, terror" [with assimilation to i-stems], Gothic agis) and a verbal derivative *agisōjan- (whence Old High German egisōn "to fear," Middle Dutch eisen) and a corresponding noun derivative *agisan- (whence Old English egesa, egsa "fear, terror," Old Saxon egiso, Old High German agiso, egiso); Germanic *agaz perhaps going back to Indo-European *h2egh-os, whence also Greek áchos "pain, distress"
Note: Germanic also has a verb *agan-, exemplified by the Gothic Class VI preterite-present ogan "to fear" (from a presumed reduplicated perfect) and the adjective unagands "fearless"; the verb has been compared with Old Irish adˑágadar "(s/he) frightens," and (despite the semantic gap) Greek áchnymai, achnýnai "to grieve, lament." See also etymology and note at ail entry 1.
Verb
Middle English awen "to terrify, overawe," derivative of awe "terror, awe entry 1"
First Known Use
Noun
12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a
Verb
1597, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of awe was
in the 12th century
Dictionary Entries Near awe
Cite this Entry
“Awe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/awe. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.
Kids Definition
awe
1 of 2 noun
: a feeling of mixed fear, respect, and wonder
awe
2 of 2 verb
awed; awing
: to fill with awe
More from Merriam-Webster on awe
Nglish: Translation of awe for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of awe for Arabic Speakers
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