Gawky means awkward and ungainly in movement or appearance, especially in a way that comes from growing quickly. A gawky teenager might have long arms and legs that seem too big for their body, making them bump into things or trip over their own feet. Picture a young giraffe taking its first steps: all wobbly legs and uncertain movements.

The word usually describes people during growth spurts, when different parts of their body grow at different rates. A kid who was graceful last year might suddenly become gawky after shooting up several inches over the summer. Their brain hasn't quite figured out how to coordinate these newly longer limbs yet.

Gawky carries a gentle, temporary feeling. It suggests someone will grow into their body eventually. Nobody stays gawky forever. As people adjust to their new height and proportions, that awkwardness fades. Many professional athletes and dancers went through gawky phases as kids. The gangling, gawky sixth-grader who keeps knocking over water bottles might become the coordinated star of the basketball team by high school, once everything evens out and they master their new reach.