Awkward
/ˈɔːkwərd/
adjectiveBeginnerCommonGeneral
Meaning
Questions
Definitions
1
Difficult to use or handle; causing embarrassment or discomfort.
/ˈɔːkwərd/
adjectivenegativeBeginner
General
causing or feeling embarrassment or discomfort
The interview was awkward because of the long pauses.
💡 Simply: Clumsy, embarrassing, or uncomfortable.
More Examples
2
He felt awkward wearing such formal clothes to a casual party.
How It's Used
Social Situations
"The silence after his joke became incredibly awkward."
Physical
"The chair was awkward to sit in."
From Middle English *awkwerd, from Old Norse *af-hverfa, meaning "to turn aside, away." The modern meaning developed gradually over time.
Initially referred to something that was bent or turned aside; its modern meaning developed later.
Memory tip
Think of an 'awk'ward penguin trying to walk gracefully – it's clumsy and uncomfortable.
Practice
awquardawkwordawkwardd
Usage
60%Spoken
40%Written