awkward

awkward
awk|ward
S2 [ˈo:kwəd US ˈo:kwərd] adj
[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: awk 'turned the wrong way' (15-17 centuries) (from Old Norse öfugr) + -ward]
1.) making you feel embarrassed so that you are not sure what to do or say
▪ I hoped he would stop asking awkward questions .
▪ There was an awkward moment when she didn't know whether to shake his hand or kiss his cheek.
▪ an awkward silence
▪ A laugh can help people over an awkward situation.
▪ Philip's remarks put her in an awkward position (=made it difficult for her to know what to do) .
2.) not relaxed or comfortable
▪ She liked to dance but felt awkward if someone was watching her.
▪ Geoff looked uneasy and awkward.
▪ Make sure that the baby is not sleeping in an awkward position.
3.) difficult to do, use, or deal with
▪ It'll be awkward getting cars in and out.
▪ The new financial arrangements were awkward to manage.
▪ A good carpenter can make a cupboard to fit the most awkward space.
▪ She was afraid he was going to ask an awkward question.
4.) not convenient
▪ I'm sorry to call at such an awkward time but I won't keep you a minute.
5.) an awkward person is deliberately unhelpful
= ↑difficult awkward about
▪ The staff wanted to go home and they were getting awkward about a meeting starting so late.
▪ an awkward customer (=person who is difficult and unhelpful)
>awkwardly adv
▪ 'I'm very sorry about your sister,' he said awkwardly.
▪ Vera smiled awkwardly.
>awkwardness n [U]
▪ He tried to smooth over the awkwardness of the situation.

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • awkward — awkward, clumsy, maladroit, inept, gauche mean not adapted by constitution or character to act, operate, or achieve the intended or desired ends with ease, fitness, or grace. Awkward and clumsy are by far the widest of these terms in their range… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Awkward — Awk ward ([add]k we[ e]rd), a. [Awk + ward.] 1. Wanting dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments; not dexterous; without skill; clumsy; wanting ease, grace, or effectiveness in movement; ungraceful; as, he was awkward at a trick; an… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • awkward — [ôk′wərd] adj. [ME aukward < ON ǫfugr, turned backward + OE weard, WARD] 1. not having grace or skill; clumsy, as in form or movement; bungling [an awkward dancer, an awkward style] 2. inconvenient to use; hard to handle; unwieldy [an awkward… …   English World dictionary

  • Awkward — Titre original Awkward Genre Comédie Créateur(s) Lauren Iungerich Acteurs principaux Ashley Rickards Beau Mirchoff Brett Davern Sadie Saxon Pays d’origine …   Wikipédia en Français

  • awkward — [adj1] clumsy, inelegant all thumbs*, amateurish, artless, blundering, bulky, bumbling, bungling, butterfingers*, coarse, floundering, gawky, graceless, green*, having two left feet*, having two left hands*, incompetent, inept, inexpert, klutzy* …   New thesaurus

  • awkward — index difficult, improper, inadept, incompetent, inelegant, inept (incompetent), ponderous, unbecoming …   Law dictionary

  • awkward — (adj.) mid 14c., in the wrong direction, from AWK (Cf. awk) back handed + adverbial suffix weard (see WARD (Cf. ward)). Meaning clumsy first recorded 1520s. Related: Awkwardly. Other formations from awk, none of them surviving, were awky, awkly,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • awkward — ► ADJECTIVE 1) hard to do or deal with. 2) causing or feeling embarrassment. 3) inconvenient. 4) clumsy. DERIVATIVES awkwardly adverb awkwardness noun. ORIGIN from obsolete …   English terms dictionary

  • awkward — adj. 1) awkward with (he is awkward with children) 2) (BE) awkward for (Monday is awkward for me) 3) awkward to + inf. (it is awkward to discuss such matters in public = it is awkward discussing such matters in public) * * * [ ɔːkwəd] (BE)… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • awkward — [[t]ɔ͟ːkwə(r)d[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED An awkward situation is embarrassing and difficult to deal with. I was the first to ask him awkward questions but there ll be harder ones to come... There was an awkward moment as couples decided whether to stand …   English dictionary

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