Awkward
adjective
Feeling uncomfortable, nervous, or embarrassed in a situation.
I felt awkward when I tripped on the stage.
Often appears as...
- feel awkward
- make (someone) feel awkward
adjective
Difficult to use or handle because of size, weight, or shape.
The bulky package was awkward to carry.
Often appears as...
- awkward to handle
- awkward to carry
adjective
Not skilled or graceful.
His awkward dancing made people laugh.
Often appears as...
- move awkwardly
- act awkwardly
adjective
Causing problems, worries, or embarrassment.
Her question put him in an awkward position.
Often appears as...
- awkward position
- awkward question
adjective
Feeling uncomfortable, nervous, or embarrassed in a situation.
I felt awkward when I tripped on the stage.
Often appears as...
- feel awkward
- make (someone) feel awkward
adjective
Difficult to use or handle because of size, weight, or shape.
The bulky package was awkward to carry.
Often appears as...
- awkward to handle
- awkward to carry
adjective
Not skilled or graceful.
His awkward dancing made people laugh.
Often appears as...
- move awkwardly
- act awkwardly
adjective
Causing problems, worries, or embarrassment.
Her question put him in an awkward position.
Often appears as...
- awkward position
- awkward question
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Context Sensitivity
Use 'awkward' to express personal discomfort in specific social situations.
I felt awkward when everyone sang me 'Happy Birthday' quietly.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Negative
'Awkward' can imply a charm in the discomfort, like in quirky or offbeat scenarios.
His awkward jokes somehow added to the charm of his speech.
Pro Tip 3/3Subtle Tension
Can reveal an undercurrent of tension or potential conflict in interactions.
The room went silent, and the atmosphere felt awkward.
Pro Tip 1/3Context Sensitivity
Use 'awkward' to express personal discomfort in specific social situations.
I felt awkward when everyone sang me 'Happy Birthday' quietly.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Negative
'Awkward' can imply a charm in the discomfort, like in quirky or offbeat scenarios.
His awkward jokes somehow added to the charm of his speech.
Pro Tip 3/3Subtle Tension
Can reveal an undercurrent of tension or potential conflict in interactions.
The room went silent, and the atmosphere felt awkward.
Pro Tip 1/3Context Sensitivity
Use 'awkward' to express personal discomfort in specific social situations.
I felt awkward when everyone sang me 'Happy Birthday' quietly.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Negative
'Awkward' can imply a charm in the discomfort, like in quirky or offbeat scenarios.
His awkward jokes somehow added to the charm of his speech.
Pro Tip 3/3Subtle Tension
Can reveal an undercurrent of tension or potential conflict in interactions.
The room went silent, and the atmosphere felt awkward.
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Video examples
How one teenager...
I would call people up, it would be the wrong person. It would be really awkward. I'd also have a lot of times where I'd call players up, and they didn't want to speak at all to me. They would hang up. When I said the word baseball, they would just refuse to talk altogether. This was because they faced a lot of segregation during their careers.
Video examples
Ami Klin: A new way to...
There are those individuals that if you observe them in their school, you see them running the periphery fence all the school day if you let them, to those individuals who cannot stop coming to you and trying to engage you repeatedly, relentlessly, but often in an awkward fashion, without that immediate resonance.
Video examples
The benefits of good...
So there are a lot of reasons to aim for good posture. But it's getting harder these days. Sitting in an awkward position for a long time can promote poor posture, and so can using computers or mobile devices, which encourage you to look downward. Many studies suggest that, on average, posture is getting worse.
Video examples
Inside a cartoonist's...
that is not absolutely necessary for the advancement of the idea. The image and words have to dance together in a way that makes sense. It could be a graceful dance, or an awkward dance, if that is part of the humor or idea. And then the execution. Some cartoonists sketch the idea with pencil
Video examples
Exploring other...
and even the insides of his friends, which is probably pretty awkward. Once the hapless square comes to terms with the third dimension, he begs his host to help him visit the fourth and higher dimensions, but the sphere bristles at the mere suggestion of dimensions higher than three
Video examples
Expanding our definition...
do that we roped in someone who knows a thing or two about virality it's just like a monetary thing you just yes yes I'm afraid you owe me no I am actually going to buzz off stage and leave you sitting here not feeling awkward because I would like to welcome to the stage
Video examples
The surprising science...
in a coalition system, and as I said, in the primaries always I'm waiting for that moment because then you have two members of the same party who have been fighting with each other, and they need to come together at some moment. And it leads to very awkward situations.
Video examples
The difference between...
We have three main give all of us a language for talking about a subject that's quite awkward and uncomfortable to discuss; empower a whole front line, namely friends, to help; and, in the process, improve all of our ability to love better.
Video examples
Best Lion Moments: Part...
undoing and it puts flip in a really awkward position he doesn't want the Cubs killed but keeps to his promise to inform the village these two young lions are very important to to your Conservancy
Video examples
Probing Platypus...
they're extremely awkward on land and not exactly graceful in the water but there's something endearing about these
Video examples
How one teenager...
I would call people up, it would be the wrong person. It would be really awkward. I'd also have a lot of times where I'd call players up, and they didn't want to speak at all to me. They would hang up. When I said the word baseball, they would just refuse to talk altogether. This was because they faced a lot of segregation during their careers.
Video examples
Ami Klin: A new way to...
There are those individuals that if you observe them in their school, you see them running the periphery fence all the school day if you let them, to those individuals who cannot stop coming to you and trying to engage you repeatedly, relentlessly, but often in an awkward fashion, without that immediate resonance.
Video examples
The benefits of good...
So there are a lot of reasons to aim for good posture. But it's getting harder these days. Sitting in an awkward position for a long time can promote poor posture, and so can using computers or mobile devices, which encourage you to look downward. Many studies suggest that, on average, posture is getting worse.
Video examples
Inside a cartoonist's...
that is not absolutely necessary for the advancement of the idea. The image and words have to dance together in a way that makes sense. It could be a graceful dance, or an awkward dance, if that is part of the humor or idea. And then the execution. Some cartoonists sketch the idea with pencil
Video examples
Exploring other...
and even the insides of his friends, which is probably pretty awkward. Once the hapless square comes to terms with the third dimension, he begs his host to help him visit the fourth and higher dimensions, but the sphere bristles at the mere suggestion of dimensions higher than three
Video examples
Expanding our definition...
do that we roped in someone who knows a thing or two about virality it's just like a monetary thing you just yes yes I'm afraid you owe me no I am actually going to buzz off stage and leave you sitting here not feeling awkward because I would like to welcome to the stage
Video examples
The surprising science...
in a coalition system, and as I said, in the primaries always I'm waiting for that moment because then you have two members of the same party who have been fighting with each other, and they need to come together at some moment. And it leads to very awkward situations.
Video examples
The difference between...
We have three main give all of us a language for talking about a subject that's quite awkward and uncomfortable to discuss; empower a whole front line, namely friends, to help; and, in the process, improve all of our ability to love better.
Video examples
Best Lion Moments: Part...
undoing and it puts flip in a really awkward position he doesn't want the Cubs killed but keeps to his promise to inform the village these two young lions are very important to to your Conservancy
Video examples
Probing Platypus...
they're extremely awkward on land and not exactly graceful in the water but there's something endearing about these
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Nick Nolte
American Actor
I never felt comfortable in real life very well. It's always been an awkward kind of thing for me and so when I hit the stage I just sensed freedom. I sensed, 'Here's a place that I can have all the experiences of life and not feel uncomfortable about it.
Quote examples
Kathryn Minshew
American Businesswoman
If you're able to arrange a trial period with a new hire, do it. It will give both of you a chance to make sure the position is a good fit - and can help you avoid being in the awkward situation of wanting to fire someone three or four weeks in.
Quote examples
Nicholas Hoult
English Actor
As you're growing up, it's odd, because directors don't expect you to grow up. They think you'll be young forever, but as an actor, there is an awkward period when you're too young for old or too old for young, and it can be an odd time.
Quote examples
Jordan Gavaris
Canadian Actor
I don't win anything in life, you know what I mean? I was, like, the awkward kid who didn't go to prom, but I did - nobody noticed, though.
Quote examples
Karan Johar
Indian Director
I do not understand why we are not raised to celebrate our bodies as children. Why we are told to be shy or awkward or self-conscious.
Quote examples
Jimmy Smits
American Actor
I'm socially awkward in life, and that's one of the reasons why I do what I do. I'm more about interpreting other people's words.
Quote examples
Liev Schreiber
American Actor
Actors, you know, they're often awkward people in real life.
Quote examples
Chris Colfer
American Actor
My life is an awkward visit from the kids table.
Quote examples
Elvis Duran
American Entertainer
My voice was awkward. I had a deep Texan accent.
Quote examples
Jon Lovett
American Producer
I am a deeply awkward person; I am not cool.
Quote examples
Nick Nolte
American Actor
I never felt comfortable in real life very well. It's always been an awkward kind of thing for me and so when I hit the stage I just sensed freedom. I sensed, 'Here's a place that I can have all the experiences of life and not feel uncomfortable about it.
Quote examples
Kathryn Minshew
American Businesswoman
If you're able to arrange a trial period with a new hire, do it. It will give both of you a chance to make sure the position is a good fit - and can help you avoid being in the awkward situation of wanting to fire someone three or four weeks in.
Quote examples
Nicholas Hoult
English Actor
As you're growing up, it's odd, because directors don't expect you to grow up. They think you'll be young forever, but as an actor, there is an awkward period when you're too young for old or too old for young, and it can be an odd time.
Quote examples
Jordan Gavaris
Canadian Actor
I don't win anything in life, you know what I mean? I was, like, the awkward kid who didn't go to prom, but I did - nobody noticed, though.
Quote examples
Karan Johar
Indian Director
I do not understand why we are not raised to celebrate our bodies as children. Why we are told to be shy or awkward or self-conscious.
Quote examples
Jimmy Smits
American Actor
I'm socially awkward in life, and that's one of the reasons why I do what I do. I'm more about interpreting other people's words.
Quote examples
Liev Schreiber
American Actor
Actors, you know, they're often awkward people in real life.
Quote examples
Chris Colfer
American Actor
My life is an awkward visit from the kids table.
Quote examples
Elvis Duran
American Entertainer
My voice was awkward. I had a deep Texan accent.
Quote examples
Jon Lovett
American Producer
I am a deeply awkward person; I am not cool.
Example 1 of 10
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