/ ˈɔːkwəd; NAmE -wərd/ adjective
1.
making you feel embarrassed :
There was an awkward silence.
2.
difficult to deal with
SYN difficult :
Don't ask awkward questions.
You've put me in an awkward position.
an awkward customer (= a person who is difficult to deal with)
Please don't be awkward about letting him come.
3.
not convenient
SYN inconvenient :
Have I come at an awkward time?
4.
difficult or dangerous because of its shape or design :
This box is very awkward for one person to carry.
5.
not moving in an easy way; not comfortable :
He tried to dance, but he was too clumsy and awkward.
I must have slept in an awkward position—I'm aching all over.
► awk·ward·ly adverb :
'I'm sorry,' he said awkwardly.
She fell awkwardly and broke her ankle.
an awkwardly shaped room
► awk·ward·ness noun [ U ]:
She laughed to cover up her feeling of awkwardness.
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense the wrong way round, upside down ): from dialect awk backwards, perverse, clumsy (from Old Norse afugr turned the wrong way) + -ward .