Gawky
/ˈɡɔːki/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Gawky describes someone who moves or looks awkward, often because they are tall or thin and not yet confident with their body. It usually refers to young people, especially teenagers, who may seem a little strange or uncomfortable in their movements or posture.
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See It in Action
Describing a person, often young, who is awkward or clumsy in their movements
- •The gawky teenager tripped over his own feet during the dance.
- •She looked gawky in her too-big clothes and tall shoes.
- •Being gawky is common during the teenage years when bodies grow fast.
Describing something or someone that appears strange or uncomfortable because of awkward size or shape
- •The gawky giraffe moved slowly and ungracefully across the field.
- •His gawky posture made him stand out in the crowd.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "gawky" like "awkward" (A2 word), but more about how someone looks or moves in a way that is not smooth or graceful
- ✓Picture a tall teenager who is still growing, moving their arms and legs in an unusual way, not yet comfortable or confident
- ✓It's the feeling when you see someone who tries to walk or dance but looks a bit clumsy or unsure
- ✓Sounds like "GAW-kee" → imagine a big bird called a "gawk" flapping its wings awkwardly while learning to fly
- ✓Think of the character Mr. Bean in his funny, clumsy movements—he looks gawky because he is not smooth or natural
- ✓NOT like "graceful" (smooth and beautiful movements), "gawky" is the opposite—awkward and a little strange
- ✓NOT like "clumsy" (can mean dropping or breaking things), "gawky" focuses more on strange or uncomfortable body movements or posture
- ✓NOT like "shy" (feeling nervous), "gawky" is about how someone looks or moves, not their feelings
Try Other Words
- •Awkward: not smooth or comfortable in movement or behavior (Use when the clumsiness is general and not only about appearance)
- •Clumsy: often dropping or bumping into things (Use when the person is physically uncoordinated, not just awkward-looking)
- •Ungainly: moving in an awkward or strange way (Use for more formal or descriptive writing about awkward movements)
- •Lanky: tall and thin, sometimes awkward in movement (Use when focusing more on body shape than movement)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix; root word "gawk" + "-y" suffix meaning "having the quality of")
- •Etymology: From "gawk," a word from Old English meaning a foolish or awkward person, plus "-y" to make an adjective
- •Historical development: Originally used to describe simple or foolish people; over time, it came to mean awkward or clumsy in movement or appearance
- •Modern usage: Mostly used to describe young people or animals who look awkward because of their size or movements, often in a gentle or humorous way
Reflect & Connect
•How does being gawky affect a young person's confidence, and can it change as they grow older?
•Can you think of a time when you or someone else looked gawky but later became more graceful? What helped that change?
Fill in the blanks
1.The gawky teenager ___ over his own feet because he was still learning to move smoothly.
2.People often feel ___ when they are gawky because their movements are not natural yet.
3.Unlike graceful dancers, the gawky child moved with ___ and strange gestures.
4.When someone is described as gawky, it usually means their body looks ___ or uncomfortable.
5.The phrase "gawky ___" is often used to describe teenagers growing tall and thin quickly.
6.Gawky movements can be ___ by fast growth or lack of practice.
7.Even though he was gawky, his friends knew he was ___ and kind.