awesome

adjective

awe·​some ˈȯ-səm 

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.”

Synonyms

• amazing
• astonishing
• astounding
• awful
• eye-opening
• fabulous
• marvelous
• marvellous
• miraculous
• portentous
• prodigious
• staggering
• stunning
• stupendous
• sublime
• surprising
• wonderful
• wondrous

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

With Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones and the awesome might of Mother Nature out in front of the marketing for Twisters, many may not know about the additional treats swirling in Lee Isaac Chung’s legacy sequel to the original 1996 hit. —Jordan Hoffman, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 July 2024

Right now, Prime members can snag it at an awesome deal of 56 percent off during the two-day Prime Day event. —Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 17 July 2024

Certainly, the state title win was phenomenal, but there were just so many awesome moments on and off the field with the guys. —Jacob Steinberg, Baltimore Sun, 17 July 2024

The extremely accelerated pace of the story results in a film packed with visually inventive scenes, awesome fights, and opportunities for the talented cast to spew out great one liners left and right. —Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 16 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

awe entry 1 + -some entry 1

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

awesome

adjective

awe·​some ˈȯ-səm 

1

: showing awe

2

: causing a feeling of awe

3

informal : terrific sense 2, extraordinary

had an awesome time

awesomely adverb

awesomeness noun