What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Awfully vs Seriously - What's the difference?

awfully | seriously |

As adverbs the difference between awfully and seriously

is that awfully is in a manner inspiring awe while seriously is (manner) in a serious or literal manner.

awfully

English

Adverb

(en adverb)
  • In a manner inspiring awe.
  • Reverently.
  • Badly, terribly.
    • She led after the swiming and cycling, but ran awfully and came in fourth.
  • (not comparable) Very; exceedingly; extremely; excessively.
  • * 1912 , , The Grim Smile of the Five Towns , Project Gutenberg eText.
    • It was wondrous. 'I'm awfully glad I came now,' his thought ran; 'I'm managing it rather well.'
  • (obsolete) Fearfully.

    • Usage notes

    * Adjectives to which "awfully" is often applied: good, hard, sad, nice, sorry, long, quiet, big, glad, familiar, well, difficult, tired, bad, hot, high, busy, pretty, small, cold, funny, expensive, fond, important, young, interesting, jolly, short, proud, clever, boring, strange, happy, lonely, stupid, strong, sick, pleased, old, hungry, afraid, silly.

    Synonyms

    * (very) very, extremely, terribly

    seriously

    English

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (manner) In a serious or literal manner.
    • He was hoping that we would take him seriously .
    ''Jimmy jokingly called Bob a doofus. Bob took the insult seriously .
  • (speech act) (Used to attempt to introduce a serious point in a less serious conversation)
    • Now, seriously , why did you forget to feed the cat today?
  • (speech act)
    • You baked 10 cakes. Seriously , why did you do that?

    Derived terms

    * srsly (abbreviation) English manner adverbs English speech-act adverbs