ALL meanings of awful
aw·ful
A a - adjective awful If you say that someone or something is awful, you dislike that person or thing or you think that they are not very good. 3
- adjective awful If you say that something is awful, you mean that it is extremely unpleasant, shocking, or bad. 3
- adjective awful If you look or feel awful, you look or feel ill. 3
- adjective awful You can use awful with noun groups that refer to an amount in order to emphasize how large that amount is. 3
- adverb awful You can use awful with adjectives that describe a quality in order to emphasize that particular quality. 3
- adjective awful very bad; unpleasant 3
- adjective awful inspiring reverence or dread 3
- adjective awful overcome with awe; reverential 3
- adverb awful (intensifier) 3
- adjective awful inspiring awe; highly impressive 3
- adjective awful causing fear; terrifying 3
- adjective awful dreadful; appalling 3
- adjective awful full of awe; reverential 3
- adjective awful very bad, ugly, unpleasant, etc. 3
- adjective awful great 3
- adverb awful very; extremely 3
- adjective awful extremely bad; unpleasant; ugly: awful paintings; an awful job. 1
- adjective awful inspiring fear; dreadful; terrible: an awful noise. 1
- adjective awful solemnly impressive; inspiring awe: the awful majesty of alpine peaks. 1
- adjective awful full of awe; reverential. 1
- adjective awful extremely dangerous, risky, injurious, etc.: That was an awful fall she had. He took an awful chance by driving here so fast. 1
- adverb awful Informal. very; extremely: He did an awful good job of painting the barn. It's awful hot in here. 1
- noun awful Very bad or unpleasant. 1
- adjective awful terrible, horrid 1
- abbreviation AWFUL awe-inspiring 1
- adjective awful reverential 1
- adverb awful awfully: intensifier 1
- noun awful Although some object to any use of awful or awfully in any sense not connected with a feeling of awe, both have been used in other senses for several centuries. Awful and awfully as adverbial intensifiers—awful(ly)hot; awful(ly)cold—appear in the early 19th century, following much the same pattern as horribly anddreadfully. As an adverb awful is less formal in tone than awfully. In the sense “inspiring awe or fear” awesome has largely replaced awful. 1
- adjective awful Oppressing with fear or horror; appalling, terrible. 0
- adjective awful (now rare) Inspiring awe; filling with profound reverence or respect; profoundly impressive. 0
- adjective awful Struck or filled with awe. 0
- adjective awful (Obsolete (No longer in use)) Terror-stricken. 0
- adjective awful Worshipful; reverential; law-abiding. 0
- adjective awful Exceedingly great; usually applied intensively. 0
- adjective awful Very bad. 0
- adverb awful (Colloquial) Very, extremely; as, an awful big house. 0