va-va-voom

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noun

ˌvä-ˌvä-ˈvüm 

informal

: a strikingly sexy, voluptuous, or appealing quality

The actress exudes va-va-voom as she walks through the Sixth Avenue doorway of the Power House Theatre.

—Vicki Hillhouse

He turns up the volume and the va-va-voom, throws Jay-Z and Lana Del Rey on the soundtrack when jazz bands are playing on the screen, but leaves the basic storyline untouched.

—Ross Douthat

Throughout history, the rich have liked to demonstrate their status by displaying luxury goods that their inferiors are unable to afford. An Old Master can add real va-va-voom to your Manhattan penthouse.

—The Economist

va-va-voom

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adjective

informal

: strikingly sexy, voluptuous, or appealing

This mascara won't clump or flake, plus it'll give you long, full, va-va-voom lashes.

—Ama Kwarteng

The heroine of Craft's book is Molly Shaw, a mousy … professor of women's history who secretly writes steamy piratical novels as Sandra St. Claire, and who is persuaded to adopt the va-va-voom guise of her literary alter ego in order to seduce Jake Berenger, a billionaire hotelier.

—Rebecca Mead

Examples of va-va-voom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Victoria’s Secret made its name with a certain va-va-voom approach to sexiness that was seen as too interested in male gaze and out of step with consumers. —Evan Clark, WWD, 6 Dec. 2024

This moisturizing lipstick uses mimosa, jojoba, and sunflower waxes to deliver lasting hydration, while rich pigments elevate this from a simple lip balm to a va-va-voom makeup essential. —Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 25 Sep. 2024

Beyoncé turned the volume to 100 for her brand new GQ cover, rocking several different hairstyles with tons of body and va-va-voom volume, a la the signature look of the Lonestar State. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 10 Sep. 2024

But that bump up in adjusted profits comes in what’s been a very long journey for Victoria’s Secret, which for years epitomized a va-va-voom image of sexiness only to fall out of sync with many customers and the times. —Evan Clark, WWD, 14 Aug. 2024

Among them were Fellini heroines like Claudia Cardinale; Michelangelo Antonioni’s bewitching muse Monica Vitti; the always elegant Sophia Loren; and Monica Bellucci, still the very definition of va-va-voom. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 30 July 2024

The Bailey sisters went long with butt-length locs for Chlöe and curls for Halle, while Ice Spice changed it up with a fun, va-va-voom bombshell bob. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 30 June 2024

The shape in drag isn’t as va-va-voom as her face deserves. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 Mar. 2024

Winehouse left a tall fashion legacy with her unique mix of retro va-va-voom styles and sportswear. —Ingrid Schmidt, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 May 2024

Adjective

The collection crescendoed passionately into the evening with Saab’s bread-and-butter va-va-voom silhouettes. —Thomas Adamson, ajc, 4 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1962, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1955, in the meaning defined above