1
: an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder that is inspired by authority or by the sacred or sublime
stood in awe of the king
regard nature's wonders with awe
awed; awing; awes
: to inspire or fill with awe
We were awed by the beauty of the mountains.
Examples of awe in a Sentence
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
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.
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
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Gemma Allen, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
The movie is seen as a bellwether for the tenure of Warner Bros film chiefs Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca, who have incurred the awe and ire of Hollywood by building a slate of big-budget features from big-name talent.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 18 Apr. 2025
Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Nov. 2024
Macdonald doesn’t want us to be awed by history unfolding.
—Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for awe
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Noun
When Sally Ride eventually became America’s first woman in space in 1983, she was met not with awe but with predictable gendered scrutiny.
—Gemma Allen, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
The movie is seen as a bellwether for the tenure of Warner Bros film chiefs Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca, who have incurred the awe and ire of Hollywood by building a slate of big-budget features from big-name talent.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
Then cameras rolled, and Gascón was awed by Gomez’s ability to be present and humble.
—Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Nov. 2024
Macdonald doesn’t want us to be awed by history unfolding.
—Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for awe
Cite this Entry
“Awe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/awe. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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