wow

wow — exclamation

1. a word you call out when something suddenly surprises you, especially in a pleas

1.exclamationA1
Definition

a word you call out when something suddenly surprises you, especially in a pleasant or impressive way

Example

Wow! I did not expect the mountain view at sunrise to be this stunning.

standalone wow marking surprise

Wow, Esme — you managed to fix the computer all by yourself!

wow followed by a name and explanation

Synonyms
  • oh

    neutral — can express any kind of surprise without enthusiasm

  • gosh

    milder and slightly old-fashioned; often used in polite surprise

  • amazing

    functions as an exclamation but focuses specifically on admiration rather than surprise

Grammar Patterns

wow + [clause or standalone]

Usage Note

Informal. Used in speech, text messages, and casual writing. Not appropriate in academic essays or formal business correspondence. The same tone can carry delight, amazement, or mild shock depending on context.

Common Mistakes

The quarterly figures were, wow, very impressive.' (in a formal report)
The quarterly figures were very impressive.
wow is too casual for formal writing.
Wow, he died?' (for sad news)
Oh no, he died?' or 'That's terrible.
wow usually carries positive surprise, not sympathy.

wow — noun

wow — verb

Synonym discussion

Sense: exclamation/1

Wow, oh, gosh, amazing, and incredible can all express surprise, but they differ in tone and use. Wow is enthusiastic and informal, often carrying delight or admiration — for example, when someone is impressed by a view or a skill. Oh is a neutral all-purpose surprise marker whose emotion comes from tone: 'Oh, I didn't see you there' (mild) versus 'Oh, that's wonderful!' (excited). Gosh is milder and slightly old-fashioned, used in polite surprise: 'Gosh, it's really cold today.' Amazing and incredible (used as standalone exclamations) focus on admiration for something impressive, whereas wow can also carry simple astonishment. Choose wow for energetic, positive reactions; use oh for neutral reactions; pick gosh for mild, polite surprise; and choose amazing! for moments of pure admiration.

oh ↗gosh ↗amazing ↗incredible ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • wow factor

Prepositions

Etymology

English

Wow first appeared in the early 1500s in Scottish and Northern English dialects as a natural exclamation of surprise. Its exact origin is uncertain, but it probably arose from the spontaneous sound people make when something catches them off guard. The verb sense (to wow someone) developed in the late 1700s, and the noun sense (a sensational person or thing) emerged in the early 1900s, carried by show business and popular culture.