awfully

adverb

aw·​ful·​ly ˈȯ-fə-lē 

especially as an adverb of adjective sense 2 -flē

1

: exceedingly, extremely, very

—used as an intensive

an awfully long time

That's awfully nice of you.

Her name seems awfully familiar.

Technically, it's not bribery, but it's awfully close.

—Elizabeth Drew

"I suppose you think me awfully foolish about it?"

—Oscar Wilde

2

a

dated : in a way that inspires awe

… the drawing room in which New York's most chosen company was somewhat awfully assembled.

—Edith Wharton

b

archaic : with a feeling of awe

And timorous passed, and awfully withdrew.

—Alexander Pope, translation The Odyssey of Homer

3

: in an unpleasant, disagreeable, or objectionable way

We were treated awfully.

The team played awfully.

… he of the red nightcap now commenced snoring awfully …

—George Borrow

Examples of awfully in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The catastrophies that our heroine averts are awfully small potatoes — a bulldozer running amok, an amusement park ride speeding out of control, some prankish teenagers scheming to turn the girl’s shower into a steambath. — Arthur Knight, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026

The range-topping version of the company’s flagship SUV looks awfully similar to the Ferrari Purosangue and features a dual-motor powertrain that makes 990 hp. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 22 June 2026

The United States' second World Cup match got off to an awfully familiar start. — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026

Meanwhile, poor Sol is blithely ignoring Jen’s warning that Sincere seemed to switch up on Melanie awfully quick and that Sincere and Melanie are very in sync. — Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 16 June 2026

While there is the philosophical angle of taking the good with the bad, Allen notes that kids can get to the latter awfully easily. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 15 June 2026

Free agency looks awfully bleak for clubs targeting major upgrades this summer, which means the trade market is the primary way for teams to find external additions. — Harman Dayal, New York Times, 13 June 2026

The announcer for his team sounds awfully familiar. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026

Los Angeles – and particularly the community that surrounds Riviera, still in recovery mode from the devastating fires that ravaged Pacific Palisades in January, 2025 – also won, with this week-long reminder that this community is still awfully special, no matter what the haters say. — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 8 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for awfully

• sawfly

Kids Definition

awfully

adverb

aw·​ful·​ly

usually ˈȯ-fə-lē

in sense 1, ˈȯ-flē

in sense 2

1

: in a disagreeable or unpleasant manner

2

: very entry 2 sense 1

awfully nice of you