Definitions for awkward
ˈɔk wərdawk·ward

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:2.5 / 2 votes

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"

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 1 vote

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 DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. awkward

   Awkward typically describes a situation or person that makes one feel uncomfortable or embarrassed due to being difficult to deal with, often marked by a lack of grace, skill, or social competence. It can also refer to something not smoothly or efficiently done, potentially causing inconvenience.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Awkward

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

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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.]

Surnames Frequency by Census RecordsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. AWKWARD

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Awkward is ranked #104602 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
   
   The Awkward surname appeared 171 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Awkward.
   
   88.3% or 151 total occurrences were Black.
   6.4% or 11 total occurrences were White.
   3.5% or 6 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.

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. Nick Shymansky:

   (It's) very surreal, very awkward (to be at the premiere), but (it's) also a moment to be pleased that people are talking about her in the right light and people are thinking about her in the right way.

2. Choi Hye-jin:

   It hit me the most when I heard the news that the games would have no spectators, it feels a little awkward when I think about how quiet the game is going to be since it's just us players. It'll feel like it's not a competition.

3. Matt Schulz:

   Tipping can be tricky and awkward because there’s really no right or wrong answer, however, the truth is that many workers rely on tips to generate a large portion of their income. To them, it’s not just about etiquette. It’s about being able to provide for their families and put food on their own tables.

4. Rachel Kowert:

   In spite of the stereotype of the socially awkward pale gamer, Video Games are a good way to socially connect.

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

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=awkward
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Awkward
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=awkward
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/awkward
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=awkward
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=awkward
8. ^ Surnames Frequency by Census Records
   https://www.census.gov/topics/population/genealogy/data/2010_surnames.html