awe

noun \ ˈȯ \

|Updated on: 20 Jun 2018

Definition of awe

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

2 archaic

a : dread, terror

b : the power to inspire dread

See awe defined for English-language learners

See awe defined for kids

Examples of awe in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of awe from the Web

People who never lost faith in Motown are watching the transformation in awe.

— phoebe wall howard, Detroit Free Press, "An old pickup, a kiss, the train station: Story behind amazing photo," 15 June 2018
Keuchel then looked more like himself, regularly rendering grounders and snaring a comebacker that left Ryon Healy stunned in awe after his two steps out of the batter's box.

— hunter atkins, Houston Chronicle, "Dallas Keuchel struggles in Astros' loss to Mariners," 5 June 2018
Plus, Switzerland’s wine country, which includes the popular cantons of Vaud and Valais, is stare-around-you-in-awe beautiful.

— ray isle, Smithsonian, "Your Next Favorite European Wine Region Isn’t in France, Italy or Spain," 23 May 2018
The quality of film acting has never been higher, and there is still a craft in scriptwriting and directing that makes one regularly bow in awe.

— stephen metcalf, The New Yorker, "How Superheroes Made Movie Stars Expendable," 19 May 2018
Everyone seems relieved and in awe of the landscape.

— edward barsamian, Vogue, "Inside Kanye West’s Wild, Wild Wyoming Release Party for Ye," 1 June 2018
James has had to verify his excellence in a way that forces you to look at him with awe — again.

— jerry brewer, chicagotribune.com, "Cavs-Warriors matchup, the 'Fast and Furious' of the NBA, is a sequel we can't help but watch," 31 May 2018
The Warriors won Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena, 124-114 in overtime, but not before James left the patrons in awe.

— bruce jenkins, SFChronicle.com, "Game 1 an overtime thriller for Warriors," 31 May 2018
The place got awfully quiet when Tatum had the ball stolen by J.R. Smith around the two-minute mark, and in the end, those Celtics fans were in awe of James.

— bruce jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle, "It’s LeBron, again, to face Warriors or Rockets," 28 May 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of awe

Middle English, from Old Norse agi; akin to Old English ege awe, Greek achos pain

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

awe Synonyms

awe

verb \ ˈȯ \

Definition of awe

awed; awing

transitive verb

: to inspire or fill with awe

We were awed by the beauty of the mountains.

See awe defined for English-language learners

Examples of awe in a Sentence

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.