awakward — causing difficulty; hard to do or deal with
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: causing difficulty; hard to do or deal with
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈɔːkwərd/
Example Sentences
- He made an awkward attempt to ask her out by singing in the cafeteria.
- The awkward teenager bumped into three people while trying to look cool.
- It was awkward when I waved back at someone who was waving at the person behind me.
awakward
ADJECTIVE[/ˈɔːkwərd/]
causing difficulty; hard to do or deal with
causing difficulty; hard to do or deal with
Moving backward or forward feels equally awkward!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Old Norse 'öfugr', meaning 'backwards' or 'turned the wrong way', which emerged in the 14th century. Over time, the term evolved from its literal spatial meaning to encompass the figurative sense of being clumsy, ungraceful, or socially uncomfortable.
Breakdown
Old Norse öfugr (backwards, inverted) + -ward (directional suffix) = awkward, originally denoting something oriented in the wrong direction, later generalizing to describe ungainly or uncomfortable situations.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“He made an awkward attempt to ask her out by singing in the cafeteria.”
“The awkward teenager bumped into three people while trying to look cool.”
“It was awkward when I waved back at someone who was waving at the person behind me.”
“The interview became awkward when I accidentally called the boss 'mom'.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.