Awesome

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈɔːsÉ™m/
• US IPA: /ˈɔs.É™m/
• cot-caught IPA: /ˈɑs.É™m/

Origin

Early Modern English 1590-1600, from awe + -some. Compare Old English eġeful ("fearful, inspiring awe").

Full definition of awesome

Adjective

1. Causing awe or terror; inspiring wonder or excitement.The waterfall in the middle of the rainforest was an awesome sight.The tsunami was awesome in its destructive power.
2. (colloquial) Excellent, exciting, remarkable.That was awesome!Awesome, dude!

Usage notes

The oldest meaning of "awesome" is "something which inspires awe", but the word is also a common slang expression in English, originally from America. As the original meaning of awesome has become somewhat antiquated in general use, the term awe-inspiring is now generally used for the same meaning.

Synonyms

• (excellent) excellent, super, phenomenal, fantastic, terrific; wicked, bang-up, cool, sweet slang or informal; chur, cher New Zealand

Derived terms

• awesomely
• awesomeness
• awesomest

Related terms

• awe-inspiring
• awful

Noun

1. (Internet slang) The quality, state, or essence of being awesome or cool; awesomeness.
• 2011, Gwen Hayes, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (2011), ISBN 9781609284619, page 6:Plus, her patent leather boots were made of awesome. They made her legs look longer and leaner.
• 2011, Kevin Seccia, Punching Tom Hanks: Dropkicking Gorillas and Pummeling Zombified Ex-Presidents—A Guide to Beating Up Anything, St. Martin's Press (2011), ISBN 9780312643744, page 189:Swayze, of course, is the being of pure awesome who has by now conquered all of Heaven.
• 2013, Carrie Jones, Captivate, Bloomsbury (2010), ISBN 9781599903422, page 150:“Your grandmother,” he mumbles into my hair as we cuddle on the couch, “is made of awesome.”

Synonyms

• awesome sauce Internet slang

Antonyms

• fail slang, weaksauce slang