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.
Synonyms
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
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
The concept of awe can be slippery to grasp, and as such, papers tend to offer examples.
—Lane Sainty, The Arizona Republic, 3 Nov. 2024
Mohsen Milani, Foreign Affairs, 20 Sep. 2010
The executive is awed by the sailboats — their speed, ability to turn 90 degrees quickly and otherworldly appearance, among other attributes — and highly fluent in the different boats and rules of racing.
—Jennifer Weil, WWD, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for awe 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Wyler’s squint of discomfort with Penn’s manipulations soon softens into a look of impressed awe, her eyes no longer judgmental but adoring.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
The concept of awe can be slippery to grasp, and as such, papers tend to offer examples.
—Lane Sainty, The Arizona Republic, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
The Bush administration's thunderous march to Baghdad in 2003 shocked and awed all the way to Tehran.
—Mohsen Milani, Foreign Affairs, 20 Sep. 2010
The executive is awed by the sailboats — their speed, ability to turn 90 degrees quickly and otherworldly appearance, among other attributes — and highly fluent in the different boats and rules of racing.
—Jennifer Weil, WWD, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for awe
Dictionary Entries Near awe
Cite this Entry
“Awe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/awe. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share