oh

interjection

\ (ˈ)ō

variants: or less commonly O

Essential Meaning of oh

1 —used to express surprise, happiness, disappointment, or sadness Oh, it's so windy out here!Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that.Oh no! I forgot my purse.

2 —used in response to a physical sensation (such as pain) Oh, that hurt.Oh, that does taste good.

3 —used to address someone directly Oh sir, you forgot your change.Oh, waiter! We'd like the bill, pleaseBless us, O Lord.

Full Definition of oh

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 —used to express an emotion (such as surprise or desire) or in response to physical stimuli Oh, no! I forgot my key.Oh, don't stop!

2 —used in direct address oh, waiter! Will you come here, please?

3 —used to express acknowledgment or understanding of a statement Oh, yes. It's one of my favorite cities.

4 —used to introduce an example or approximation Their house is about, oh, I'd say four miles from here.

noun

\ ˈō

Definition of oh (Entry 2 of 3)

: zero

abbreviation

Definition of OH (Entry 3 of 3)

Ohio

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More About oh

Synonyms for oh

Synonyms: Noun

Examples of oh in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Interjection It’s warming and oh-so-satisfying, especially when served with naan or paratha for dipping and scooping. — Washington Post, 12 Jan. 2022 Building trust in the workplace is oh-so-important for employers and employees alike. — Mike Kappel, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2022 Georgia’s Kario Oquendo was fouled on the ensuing possession, however, and made the basket and free throw to give the Bulldogs an oh-so-brief lead at 79-78. — Brent Zwerneman, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Jan. 2022 This year saw 73 screenplays chosen by over 375 Hollywood execs make the list, and boy, oh, boy, are a lot of them biopics. — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 14 Dec. 2021 And, oh yeah, the Bears had a game to play two days later, hoping to end a five-game losing streak. — Amanda Kaschube, chicagotribune.com, 12 Dec. 2021 One of my favorites is the oh-so-’70s Yves Saint Laurent Mombasa bag, with its circular shape and horn handle. — Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 31 Dec. 2021 To top it off, for this particular movie, there’s this special feeling of oh my god. — Jean Bentley, Variety, 2 Dec. 2021 Negative self-talk is an unfortunate human trait and is oh-so-common. — Shirin Etessam, Rolling Stone, 28 Dec. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oh.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.