/ ˈɔːfl; NAmE / adjective , adverb
■ adjective
1.
( informal ) very bad or unpleasant :
That's an awful colour.
'They didn't even offer to pay.' 'Oh that's awful.'
It's awful, isn't it?
The weather last summer was awful.
I feel awful about forgetting her birthday.
to look / feel awful (= to look / feel ill)
There's an awful smell in here.
The awful thing is, it was my fault.
➡ note at terrible
2.
( informal ) used to emphasize sth, especially that there is a large amount or too much of sth :
It's going to cost an awful lot of money.
There's not an awful lot of room.
I feel an awful lot better than I did yesterday.
( BrE )
I had an awful job persuading him to come (= it was very difficult) .
3.
very shocking
SYN terrible :
the awful horrors of war
► aw·ful·ness noun [ U ]:
the sheer awfulness of the situation
■ adverb
( informal , especially NAmE ) very; extremely :
Clint is awful smart.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English (see awe , -ful ).