WordGarden.iooverawe
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˌəʊvərˈɔː/
US
- /oʊvərˈɑ/cot-caught-mergerdialectalof Canadatransitiveverb
Meanings
Verb
to impress someone deeply with awe or grandeur
to make someone feel daunted or cowed by power or presence
Beyond the definition
To overawe someone is to fill them with awe and fear, often through a show of power, size, or authority. Think of a towering castle making a small village feel tiny, or a powerful speaker leaving an audience silent and respectful. It's more than simple admiration; it carries a sense of being subdued. A stern parent might overawe a child into obedience, not through anger, but through sheer authority. The word usually suggests a clear gap in power, with one person or thing strongly affecting another.
Imagine standing before the immense redwood trees of California. Their size and age aren't just impressive; they overawe you, leaving you feeling small and humbled. That's the core of what "overawe" means: to inspire a mixture of reverence and fear, often leading to submission or obedience. It goes beyond simple intimidation – there's an element of grandeur involved.
Historically, "overawe" carried strong connotations of power used to control others, particularly in political or military contexts. A king might overawe his subjects with displays of wealth and force. However, it doesn't always imply malicious intent. A teacher who commands respect through their knowledge and dedication can also overawe students, inspiring them to learn.
The key is the imbalance of power and the resulting emotional response. You wouldn't say a friendly chat overawed someone; but you might say "The judge's stern gaze overawed the defendant." Or perhaps, "The sheer scale of the Himalayas overawes all who behold them." It suggests a force so strong it silences opposition or inspires deference.
So, when something overawes you, it doesn't just impress – it dominates your senses and compels a response rooted in both admiration and apprehension.
Examples
- 1
Stadium pressure
The young players were overawed by the size of the stadium.
- 2
Famous professor
She was overawed by the famous professor at first, but soon began to speak freely.
- 3
Authority title
Don't be overawed by his title; ask your questions clearly.
- 4
Press intimidation
The government tried to overawe reporters into dropping the story.
- Patternoverawe someone into doing X
pressure them through fear or authority
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- overaweverb
Forms
- overawedpast tenseverb
- overawesverb
- overawing-ing formverb