1
: an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder that is inspired by overwhelming greatness (as in beauty, power, or size)
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
Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2025
Mercury often impressed with awe-inspiring feats of vocal prowess.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 21 Nov. 2025
CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
Those numbers processed raw certainly wouldn’t awe search committees or fan bases in places like Auburn, Baton Rouge, Fayetteville, Gainesville, State College or Stillwater.
—Kansas City Star, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for awe
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Noun
From lanterns several stories tall and hundreds of feet long to interactive exhibits that animate and breathe fire (in the form of smoke, Lewis clarifies), the festival evokes a deep sense of awe.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2025
Mercury often impressed with awe-inspiring feats of vocal prowess.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 21 Nov. 2025
Verb
As with all organ donations, we are humbled and awed by the generosity of the donor and their family.
—CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
Those numbers processed raw certainly wouldn’t awe search committees or fan bases in places like Auburn, Baton Rouge, Fayetteville, Gainesville, State College or Stillwater.
—Kansas City Star, 18 Nov. 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 26 Nov. 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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