awesome

Awesome is an adjective in English with two primary senses. In its core sense, it describes something that inspires awe, wonder, or reverence. In contemporary usage, especially in American English, it also functions as an informal intensifier meaning “extremely good, impressive, or remarkable.” The word appears across media, advertising, and everyday speech, though some speakers view it as colloquial or overused.

Etymology and history: Awesome is formed from the noun awe and the suffix -some, dating from the 18th century to mean “awe-inspiring.” Early uses referred to things capable of provoking awe or reverence, including religious imagery such as the awesome power of God. Over time, the sense broadened. By the 19th and 20th centuries, it commonly described extraordinary things rather than fearsome ones, and in modern usage it frequently serves as an emphatic positive rating rather than a literal expression of fear or reverence.

Usage notes: In formal writing, some editors discourage usage of awesome in favor of more precise terms like impressive or awe-inspiring. In casual speech, it remains widespread and flexible, though its informality can clash with more reserved registers. The noun form awesomeness derives from the adjective and is used to denote quality or character that inspires awe; awestruck is the related adjective describing someone moved by awe. The word also appears in religious and secular contexts to convey both genuine reverence and heightened praise.