The AI-powered English dictionary
An indication of excitement, surprise, astonishment, or pleasure. quotations examples
Out on thir wanderand spiritis, wow! thow cryis.
1513, Gavin Douglas, Virgil Æneid (translation) vi. Prol. 19
An expression of amazement, awe, or admiration. examples
Used sarcastically to express disapproval of something. examples
third-person singular simple present wows, present participle wowing, simple past and past participle wowed
(transitive, informal) To amaze or awe. quotations examples
If all of us can remember how great it felt to be wowed, why don't we make it a habit to do it more often for others? People remember you when you wow them, so to differentiate yourself with your clients and customers, think of doing something that would make them remember you.
2015, Joe Sweeney, Mike Yorkey, Moving the Needle, John Wiley & Sons, page 200
We have the worst of both worlds: the royal family gives us nothing, and we in turn legitimise it, give it meaning and audience and pay, through subsidies and tax exemptions, for its ability to wow us.
2023 May 8, Nesrine Malik, “The coronation pulled a screen across a desperate, failing nation – just as intended”, in The Guardian
plural wows
(informal) Anything exceptionally surprising, unbelievable, outstanding, etc. quotations examples
‘And say, Jimmy, wait till you see me in my new outfit...It’s a wow, kid.’
1932, Delos W. Lovelace, King Kong, published 1965, page 144
countable and uncountable, plural wows
(audio) A relatively slow form of flutter (pitch variation) which can affect both gramophone records and tape recorders. quotations examples
Sound films have to be loaded so that the sound is 5 seconds before the sound drum so a wow does not result when the film is punched up on the air.
1970, Larry G. Goodwin, Thomas Koehring, Closed-circuit Television Production Techniques, page 80