English vocabulary · B2
Awry
/əˈraɪ/ · adj., adv.
It means something has gone wrong or moved in the wrong direction.
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Example sentences
- The dinner plan went awry when the food never arrived.
- His careful schedule went awry after one small mistake.
Word origin and roots
from Old English
- a — on (from Old English)
- wry — twisted (from Old English)
Synonyms and nuances
- wrong (something is simply incorrect)
- off (something is slightly unusual or askew)
- astray (going in the wrong direction)
Words with the same root
wry — twisted
- wry — twisted or bent, used to describe a dry, ironic expression
- writhe — to twist the body in pain or discomfort
Lesson notes
Awry. It means something has gone wrong or moved in the wrong direction. A plan or situation that does not go the way you wanted.
Similar words are wrong, off, and astray. Use awry when a plan or situation goes in a direction you did not want.
The dinner plan went awry when the food never arrived. His careful schedule went awry after one small mistake.
From Old English. A means on. Wry means twisted. On a twisted path — when things go awry, they twist away from what you planned.