Definitions for awkward
ˈɔk wərdawk·ward

Princeton's WordNet(2.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. awkwardadjective

   causing inconvenience

   "they arrived at an awkward time"

2. awkwardadjective

   lacking grace or skill in manner or movement or performance

   "an awkward dancer"; "an awkward gesture"; "too awkward with a needle to make her own clothes"; "his clumsy fingers produced an awkward knot"

3. awkward, bunglesome, clumsy, ungainlyadjective

   difficult to handle or manage especially because of shape

   "an awkward bundle to carry"; "a load of bunglesome paraphernalia"; "clumsy wooden shoes"; "the cello, a rather ungainly instrument for a girl"

4. awkward, clumsy, cumbersome, inapt, inept, ill-chosenadjective

   not elegant or graceful in expression

   "an awkward prose style"; "a clumsy apology"; "his cumbersome writing style"; "if the rumor is true, can anything be more inept than to repeat it now?"

5. awkward, embarrassing, sticky, unenviableadjective

   hard to deal with; especially causing pain or embarrassment

   "awkward (or embarrassing or difficult) moments in the discussion"; "an awkward pause followed his remark"; "a sticky question"; "in the unenviable position of resorting to an act he had planned to save for the climax of the campaign"

6. awkward, ill at ease(p), uneasyadjective

   socially uncomfortable; unsure and constrained in manner

   "awkward and reserved at parties"; "ill at ease among eddies of people he didn't know"; "was always uneasy with strangers"

Wiktionary(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. awkwardadverb

   In a backwards direction.

2. awkwardadjective

   Lacking dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments

   John was awkward at performing the trick. He'll have to practise to improve.

3. awkwardadjective

   Not easily managed or effected; embarrassing

   That was an extremely awkward moment. Everyone was watching.

4. awkwardadjective

   Lacking social skills, or uncomfortable with social interaction

5. awkwardadjective

   Perverse; adverse; difficult to handle

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Awkwardadjective

   Etymology: [ æward, Saxon; that is, backward, untoward.

   1. Inelegant; unpolite; untaught; ungenteel.

   Proud Italy,
   Whose manners still our tardy, apish nation
   Limps after in base awkward imitation. William Shakespeare, Rich. II.

   Their own language is worthy their care; and they are judged of by their handsome or awkward way of expressing themselves in it. John Locke.

   An awkward shame, or fear of ill usage, has a share in this conduct. Jonathan Swift.

   2. Unready; unhandy; not dexterous; clumsy.

   Slow to resolve, but in performance quick:
   So true, that he was awkward at a trick. John Dryden, Hind and P.

   3. Perverse; untoward.

   A kind and constant friend
   To all that regularly offend;
   But was implacable, and awkward,
   To all that interlop’d and hawker’d. Hudibras.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Awkwardadjective

   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 awkward boy

2. Awkwardadjective

   not easily managed or effected; embarrassing

3. Awkwardadjective

   perverse; adverse; untoward

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Awkward

   Awkward is an album by Ty. It was released in 2001 on Ninja Tune records.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Awkward

   awk′ward, adj. clumsy: ungraceful: embarrassed: difficult to deal with: (Shak.) unfavourable: (obs.) froward.—adj. Awk′wardish.—adv. Awk′wardly, clumsily, embarrassingly, dangerously.—n. Awk′wardness. [Prob. Ice. afug, turned wrong way, and suff. -ward, expressing direction.]

British National Corpus

1. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'awkward' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2554

2. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'awkward' in Adjectives Frequency: #741

How to pronounce awkward?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say awkward in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of awkward in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of awkward in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of awkward in a Sentence

1. Jeb Bush Jr.:

   I can take criticism. (Rubio) can as well, we're close friends and I admire him greatly. It's a little awkward, as I've always said, that he's running for the same spot I am, but he has every right to do it. ... Donald Trump has no knowledge about my relationship with Marco Rubio.

2. Tim Bale:

   I think both Minister Boris Johnson and... Priti Patel and some other government MPs did misjudge the situation right from the start, but certainly, in as much as The Government's woken a few people up who perhaps didn't realize that Priti Patel has said this, that does make things a little bit more awkward for The Government than perhaps they were before.

3. Jayce Tingler:

   We were under the very realistic possibility that once it comes out and goes back in, there’s a very good chance that could repeat and continue to happen, we certainly understand the risk and with the understanding that certainly with the slide yesterday, he just ended up in an awkward position like that, there was a chance of that possibly happening.

4. David Mueller:

   How can you live with yourself ? You ruined my life, i was not ready for the photograph. I admit it was awkward but I never grabbed her. It’s not even close to what happened.

5. Cho Chang:

   Katie and I were a bit awkward and nervous at first, but once we got into it, it was fine — even if we had to do it about 30 times!

Popularity rank by frequency of use