A2adjective1K

Awful

UK /["/ˈɔːfl/"]/US /["/ˈɔːfl/"]/

Definition

very bad or unpleasant

In simple words: Very bad or terrible.

Examples

  • The weather was awful, and we decided to stay indoors.
  • I had an awful headache that lasted all day.
  • The music was awful, and I couldn't listen to it anymore.
  • His awful behavior at the party surprised everyone.
  • She made an awful mistake on the exam and failed.

Usage notes

Use 'awful' to describe something that is really unpleasant or of poor quality. It's appropriate in most contexts, but can be less formal than 'terrible'. Avoid using it in overly formal writing.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of 'awful' as 'a-full' of bad things.

Collocations

  • be
  • feel
  • look
  • just
  • quite
  • really

Synonyms

  • terrible

Antonyms

  • wonderful
  • fantastic
  • excellent

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'awesome' — 'awful' means bad, while 'awesome' means great.
  • Using 'awful' for very small issues, when a less strong word would fit better.
  • Overusing 'awful' in formal contexts where a different adjective might be more appropriate.