awry

Meanings

1. 1adverbafter a verb

   In a way that goes wrong or fails to follow the plan.

   Grammar: Almost always follows go or run: the plan went awry.

   Patterns

   • go awry
   • run awry

   Our carefully made plans went awry when the train was cancelled.

   Something went awry with the order, and nothing arrived.

   If the experiment goes awry, we will start again tomorrow.

2. 2adjectiveafter a verbliterary

   Not straight or properly positioned; crooked or twisted to one side.

   Grammar: Comes after a linking verb, never before a noun: her hat was awry.

   Patterns

   • be awry
   • sit awry

   His tie was awry after the long journey.

   The picture hung slightly awry on the wall.

   Her hair was awry from the wind.

Common combinations

go awry

The surprise party went awry when the guest of honor arrived early.

run awry

The project ran awry after the budget was cut.

things go awry

Even when things go awry, she stays calm.

plans went awry

Their plans went awry in the storm.

hat askew or awry

He wore his hat slightly awry.

Synonyms and how they differ

wrong

Wrong is the everyday word and can be used in many positions, whereas awry is mostly limited to go awry.

amiss

Amiss often follows something is, as in something is amiss, hinting at a hidden problem, unlike awry.

askew

Askew describes only a crooked physical position, not plans that fail.

astray

Astray suggests being led off a path, as in led astray, while awry suggests things not turning out as planned.

Opposites

Word family

wry adjective

showing dry, mocking humor; related in history to twisted

wrying adjective

rare form meaning twisting

Commonly confused: awry or wry? awry or amiss?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “awry”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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