phew
interjection
a voiceless bilabial fricative usually followed by a voiceless (y)ü
or ᵫ sound;
often read as
ˈf(y)ü 
1
—used to express relief or fatigue
2
—used to express disgust at or as if at an unpleasant odor
Examples of phew in a Sentence
phew, what a stink!
Recent Examples on the Web
Well, phew, because this mom over here is done feeling trepidation around planning summer birthdays, and not wanting to let anyone down.
—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
21 June 2026
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.
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phew. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
