Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Inspiring awe or admiration; majestic and dignified: Used to describe something or someone that commands profound respect due to impressive grandeur, dignity, or solemnity.
   • Venerable, revered: Used to describe a person who is profoundly honored and respected, often due to high status, age, or moral character.

2. Noun (capitalized):

   • The eighth month of the Gregorian calendar: The month following July and preceding September.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The august ceremony was held in the grand hall. (The majestic and dignified ceremony was held in the grand hall.)
  • The panel of august scholars gathered to discuss the ancient text. (The panel of profoundly honored and revered scholars gathered to discuss the ancient text.)

• Noun (August):

  • My vacation is scheduled for the first week of August. (My vacation is scheduled for the first week of the eighth month.)
  • School usually starts in late August. (School usually starts in late August.)

Advanced Usage

• "in august company": In the presence of highly respected or distinguished people.
  • Speaking at the conference, she found herself in august company. (Speaking at the conference, she found herself among highly distinguished people.)

Variants and Related Words

• Augustly (adverb): In a majestic or dignified manner.
  • The procession moved augustly through the city streets.
• Augustness (noun): The quality of being august; majesty.
  • The augustness of the old cathedral was undeniable.

Synonyms

• Majestic: Having or showing impressive beauty or dignity.
• Dignified: Serious and respectful in manner or style.
• Venerable: Accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character.
• Imposing: Grand and impressive in appearance.
• Stately: Having a dignified, unhurried, and grand manner; majestic in manner and appearance.

Antonyms

• Humble: Having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance.
• Undignified: Appearing foolish and unseemly; lacking in dignity.
• Insignificant: Too small or unimportant to be worth consideration.

Notes on Usage

• As an adjective, "august" is typically used in formal contexts to describe institutions, ceremonies, buildings, or people of high esteem. It is pronounced /ɔːˈɡʌst/.
• As a proper noun (the month), it is always capitalized ("August") and pronounced /ˈɔː.ɡəst/.

Adjective

1. profoundly honored
   • revered holy men
2. of or befitting a lord
   • heir to a lordly fortune
   • of august lineage

Noun

1. the month following July and preceding September