awesome

adjective

awe·​some ˈȯ-səm How to pronounce awesome (audio)
1
a
: inspiring awe
an awesome task/responsibility
a place of awesome beauty
b
informal : terrific, extraordinary
had an awesome time at the concert
2
: expressive of awe
awesome tribute

Did you know?

Is the word awesome overused?

Many object to the use of awesome to describe something (such as a sandwich) that does not literally elicit feelings of awe. Yet the same people who insist that awesome should be used only of weighty subjects (Niagara Falls, man landing on the moon) will happily use the word awful in reference to something (such as a mess) that falls distinctly short of being “full of awe.” This weakened sense was once considered improper—in fact, complaints about it persisted through the early decades of the 20th century.

The change in meaning that awesome is undergoing may be more recent than that of awful, but both words are treading the same path. For evidence that such change is normal, we need look no further than awe, which originally meant “terror” and now carries the weaker sense “wonder.”

Examples of awesome in a Sentence

the awesome sight of an erupting volcano It was an awesome responsibility. We had an awesome task ahead of us. We had an awesome time at the concert. You did an awesome job on that project. The movie was totally awesome.
Recent Examples on the Web The fabric is great quality and the fit is awesome. Kristine Solomon, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2024 My ideal time to go to bed, to close the door to my room, is 10 and to be asleep around 10:30, that would be awesome. Sonaiya Kelley, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024 And a converted school bus of bats and chains is the most terrifying, awesomest thing. Joe Lynch, Billboard, 18 Oct. 2024 Really grateful that Indianapolis has so many awesome, free parks. Gregg Doyel, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for awesome 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'awesome.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of awesome was in 1578

Dictionary Entries Near awesome

Cite this Entry

“Awesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/awesome. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

awesome

adjective
awe·​some ˈȯ-səm How to pronounce awesome (audio)
1
: showing awe
2
: causing a feeling of awe
3
informal : terrific sense 2, extraordinary
had an awesome time
awesomely adverb
awesomeness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on awesome

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!