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
Because, wow, the Open was a scene—Taylor Swift, Kendall Jenner, movie stars, and influencers everywhere. Maya Singer, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025 Despite that hiccup, the star-laden pitch went on to wow the audience and set the stage for an upfront ad haul in excess of the tech giant’s internal forecast for $1.8 billion. Dade Hayes, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
On the interior, dark rosewood floors, silk curtains, polished columns, and a metallic finish throughout bring the wow factor, alongside a statement elevator, wellness center, sun deck DJ station, and owner’s deck with a helipad and large skylight. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 16 Jan. 2025 Use it to glaze ham, turkey, or even drizzle it over roasted root vegetables for a wow factor. Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 2 Jan. 2025
Verb
May's video received comments from other Instagram users who were wowed by her encounter with the rays. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025 Even those not in attendance were wowed by her display. Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 15 Jan. 2025 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 24 Jan. 2025.

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!