stood in awe

USAGE SUMMARY

"stood in awe" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to express a feeling of deep admiration or wonder in response to something impressive or extraordinary. An example: "She stood in awe as the fireworks lit up the night sky." Alternative expressions include "was amazed," "was in wonder," and "was filled with admiration."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Rather, they stood in awe of his glamour.

The New York Times - Books

We stood in awe: Tim was so huge!

The Guardian

He has not stood in awe of the majesty of wealth".

The New Yorker

Others have simply stood in awe of his stock-picking skills, which they view as unrepeatable.

The Economist

Steven Spielberg also paid tribute: "I have always stood in awe of Carrie.

The Guardian

He was originally from Poland himself & stood in awe of the nobility.

The New Yorker

The boy stood in awe of his overbearing father, whose astute medical observations taught him much about human psychology.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I laughed, cried and stood in awe of the amazing things people are doing with food and creating community.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

This week, Jimmy Fallon played a choice snippet of Sanders's hallucinogenically bad album, We Shall Overcome, during his "Do not play" segment, which stands in awe of awful recordings.

The Guardian - Music

"I stand in awe".

The New York Times

We stand in awe.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stood in awe" to describe a deep emotional response to something grand, beautiful or powerful. It works best in narrative writing or journalism to highlight a transformative moment.

Common error

Do not use the phrase purely to describe a physical posture of standing unless the emotional state of 'awe' is the primary focus. If the subject is simply looking without a profound emotional connection, consider using "observed" or "looked at" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stood in awe" functions as a complex predicate in a sentence, where 'stood' serves as the linking or intransitive verb and 'in awe' acts as a prepositional phrase describing the subject's state. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is consistently used to denote a specific psychological and physical reaction to external stimuli.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "stood in awe" is a highly effective and evocative phrase used to describe a state of profound admiration and wonder. Ludwig AI demonstrates that it is a staple of high-end journalism and literary writing, appearing in over 50 verified examples from sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. It typically requires the preposition "of" when followed by an object and functions to highlight a subject's emotional transformation. Whether describing a response to nature, art or human achievement, it remains one of the most reliable expressions for capturing the magnitude of a truly impressive experience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

marvelled at

Places more emphasis on the intellectual or emotional wonder felt by the subject

were mesmerized

Suggests a state of being almost hypnotized or completely captured by a sight

gazed in wonder

Focuses specifically on the visual act of looking with admiration

were struck by

Implies a sudden and powerful realization or impact from an impressive thing

watched in amazement

Emphasizes the duration of the observation combined with shock or surprise

were filled with reverence

Adds a layer of deep respect or spiritual weight to the feeling of admiration

stood speechless

Highlights the physical reaction of being unable to speak due to being impressed

beheld with astonishment

Uses a more formal or literary tone to describe seeing something surprising

were left breathless

Communicates a high level of excitement or overwhelming emotional intensity

admired with humility

Suggests the subject feels small or modest in comparison to the object of awe

FAQs

How to use "stood in awe" in a sentence?

You can use "stood in awe" to describe a moment of profound admiration. For example: "The hikers "stood in awe" as they reached the summit and saw the sunrise."

What can I say instead of "stood in awe"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "marvelled at", "were spellbound", or "were mesmerized".

Is it "stood in awe" of or "stood in awe" at?

The most common and correct preposition to follow this phrase is "of". You generally say someone "stood in awe" of something, though "stood in awe" can also be used as a standalone statement.

What is the difference between "stood in awe" and "awestruck"?

While both convey a similar meaning, "awestruck" is an adjective describing the person, whereas "stood in awe" is a verb phrase that describes the action and state of the person in that moment.