wow

1 of 4

interjection

used to express strong feeling (such as pleasure or surprise)

wow

2 of 4

noun (1)

: a striking success : hit

wow

3 of 4

verb

wowed; wowing; wows

transitive verb

: to excite to enthusiastic admiration or approval
a performance that wowed the critics

wow

4 of 4

noun (2)

: a distortion in reproduced sound consisting of a slow rise and fall of pitch caused by speed variation in the reproducing system

Examples of wow in a Sentence

Verb Her performance wowed the critics.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Interjection
And beyond the slopes, family-friendly resorts in Austria wow with new concepts for indoor and outdoor entertainment as well as relaxation. Katharina Kotrba, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024 Embrace witty banter, spontaneous pow wow and the thrill of discovering something new about the world — and yourself. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 18 Dec. 2024
Noun
Useful Appliances to Keep the Office Innovative With new technology coming out so frequently, consider the newest gadget that might be a wow factor. John Hall, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024 This arched full-length mirror will instantly add the wow factor to any room. Hannah Rice, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2024
Verb
Niecy Nash wowed in a sleek white gown at the SOVAS Voice Arts Awards in Los Angeles, while Katy Perry glittered at the Jingle Bell Ball 2024 in London. Catherine Santino, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024 The senior found wide receiver Kenyon Sadiq, who ‘wowed’ fans at Lucas Oil Stadium by hurdling over a defender en route to a 28-yard touchdown. Kevin Dotson, CNN, 8 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wow 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

imitative

First Known Use

Interjection

1513, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

1920, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1924, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1932, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wow was in 1513

Dictionary Entries Near wow

Cite this Entry

“Wow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wow. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!