overawe

verb

over·​awe ˌō-vər-ˈȯ How to pronounce overawe (audio)
overawed; overawing; overawes

transitive verb

: to restrain or subdue by awe
They have been in the finals before and won't be overawed by the competition.

Examples of overawe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Which is why Sunday’s first-half display felt so peculiar, Brighton being overrun and overawed by Liverpool, who deservedly went 2-0 up inside 23 minutes and seemingly had their ticket to Wembley in hand. Megan Feringa, New York Times, 11 May 2026 After the game, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve credited Golden State with making Game 2 a tough encounter, highlighting the fevered atmosphere inside Chase Center, but also acknowledged her team’s resilience for not getting overawed by the occasion. Ben Morse, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025 He didn’t get ruffled by a noisy Rod Laver Arena crowd, or overawed by the occasion. John Pye, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2024 Possibly, his mere celebrity presence and oratory skills overawed his audiences. Albert Camus, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2023 See All Example Sentences for overawe

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overawe was in 1579

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overawe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overawe. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

overawe

verb
over·​awe ˌō-və-ˈrȯ How to pronounce overawe (audio)
: to make quiet or peaceful with fear, respect, or wonder

More from Merriam-Webster on overawe

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster