wow

1 of 4

interjection

ˈwau̇ 

—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

Interjection

The cost of this vertical wow factor is quite steep, at US$1,399 (which includes free shipping within the US). — New Atlas, 14 Aug. 2026

Robin Hood plays most like a giddy stunt show, a succession of hair-raising sequences executed with only the intent to wow the audience. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026

Noun

The wow factor that had coaches and GMs gushing over the quarterback during the offseason was almost nowhere to be seen as Tulsa’s defensive front was in Mestemaker’s face most of Saturday. — Antonio Morales, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026

Where the vehicle’s wow factor can be assumed to lie is in its old-school drive dynamics. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 4 Sep. 2026

Verb

The grab wowed the broadcasters, Jake Eisenberg and Rex Hudler. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026

While King wore ​​a custom Oscar de la Renta gown for the big day, Piet wowed in a black-and-white tuxedo by Brunello Cucinelli. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 3 Sep. 2026

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

Rhymes for wow

• bao
• bough
• brow
• chow
• ciao
• clow
• cow
• dao
• dow
• frau
• hao
• hau