Cool MateAmazing vs Awesome
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Amazing
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Awesome
InformalTop 1,000 (very common)B1adjective
Most formal: Amazing
| Amazing | Awesome | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈmeɪzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈmeɪzɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈɔːsəm//🇺🇸 //ˈɔːsəm// |
| Meaning | very good or impressive | Very good or impressive |
| Example | The view from the mountain top was simply amazing. | That movie was awesome! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | be, look, sound, absolutely, pretty, rather, be nothing short of amazing | awesome experience, awesome job, awesome view, awesome performance |
| Antonyms | ordinary, unremarkable, boring | terrible, awful, bad |
| Common mistakes | Overusing it for average things., Confusing it with 'amaze' as a verb., Using it in negative contexts incorrectly. | Used too frequently; try to vary vocabulary., Confused with 'awful', which means very bad., Overused for minor achievements. |
| Usage notes | Use 'amazing' to describe something that exceeds expectations. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but avoid using it excessively in formal writing. | Commonly used in casual conversation. Avoid in formal writing, where 'impressive' or 'excellent' might be more appropriate. |
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Frequently asked questions: Amazing vs Awesome
What's the difference between Amazing and Awesome?
Amazing: very good or impressive Awesome: Very good or impressive
Which is more formal: Amazing and Awesome?
Amazing is the most formal of these.
Which is more advanced: Amazing and Awesome?
Awesome is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Amazing and Awesome the same CEFR level?
Amazing: A1, Awesome: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Amazing and Awesome?
Amazing: adjective, Awesome: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Amazing: The view from the mountain top was simply amazing. Awesome: That movie was awesome!
Can I use Amazing and Awesome interchangeably?
Not always. Amazing and Awesome are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.