wow
B1Informal, colloquial. Used in casual speech, advertising, and popular culture. Rare in formal writing.
Definition
Meaning
An exclamation or interjection expressing strong feelings of astonishment, admiration, surprise, or pleasure.
Can also be used as a verb meaning 'to impress someone greatly' or as an adjective/noun describing something impressive or spectacular.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily functions as an interjection. Its use as a verb or adjective is less frequent and often considered slang. The effect is highly dependent on vocal delivery and context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. The verb form ('to wow someone') and adjectival use ('a wow factor') are slightly more established in American English but are fully understood in British English.
Connotations
Generally carries the same connotations. Can sometimes be used ironically or sarcastically in both varieties.
Frequency
High frequency in both, but may be perceived as slightly more American due to its prevalence in Hollywood and media.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
INTJ (as exclamation)VERB: TRANSITIVE - wow + object (e.g., The show wowed the audience.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Wow factor (the quality that makes something impressively striking)”
- “Bowled over (extremely impressed)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in marketing: 'Our product has the wow factor.'
Academic
Rare, except perhaps in informal student speech. Not used in academic writing.
Everyday
Very common in exclamatory speech to react to news, sights, or events.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new magician completely wowed the crowd at the Hammersmith Apollo.
- Her presentation wowed the board, securing the funding.
American English
- The quarterback's touchdown pass wowed the stadium.
- The startup's demo wowed the Silicon Valley investors.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Wow! Look at that big dog!
- Wow, your new bike is cool!
- 'I got the job!' 'Wow, that's fantastic news!'
- Wow, this cake is delicious.
- The special effects in the film were truly wow-inducing.
- He wowed everyone with his fluency in three languages.
- While the proposal was competent, it lacked the necessary wow factor to win the competitive tender.
- Critics were wowed by the artist's audacious new exhibition.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the sound you make when something is so surprising your mouth forms a round 'O' (WOW).
Conceptual Metaphor
POSITIVE REACTION IS A PHYSICAL IMPACT (e.g., 'blown away', 'knocked my socks off').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation into "вау" in formal contexts; it's highly informal in Russian too. The verb "to wow" has no direct single-word equivalent; use phrases like "произвести сильное впечатление".
Common Mistakes
- Using it in formal writing. Overusing it, which can make speech sound childish or insincere. Incorrectly using it as a noun (e.g., 'a wow' is very slangy).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'wow' be LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'wow' is an informal interjection and is not appropriate for formal essays, reports, or academic papers. Use more formal synonyms like 'remarkable', 'astonishing', or 'impressive'.
Primarily yes, but it can be used for negative astonishment (e.g., 'Wow, that's really bad news') or, very commonly, with heavy sarcasm (e.g., 'Wow, you're late again'). The tone of voice is key.
'Wow' expresses surprise/admiration. 'Whoa' is originally a command to stop a horse and is used to express caution, surprise, or to slow something down (e.g., 'Whoa, that's too expensive!' or 'Whoa, slow down!').
It is a transitive verb meaning 'to impress greatly'. Structure: Subject + wow + object. Example: 'The chef wowed the critics with her innovative dishes.' It remains informal.