wow
wow
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "wow" is /waʊ/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds:
/w/ - This represents the 'w' sound as in "wet" or "win". It's a voiced labial-velar approximant.
/aʊ/ - This is a diphthong, a combination of two vowel sounds. It starts with the 'a' sound as in "cow" or "now" and glides into the 'oo' sound as in "too" or "blue", though not a full 'oo' sound.
Word Form Variations
"Wow" doesn't have typical singular/plural variations like nouns do. It primarily functions as an interjection. However, it can be used in a few different ways, leading to some variations in form:
wow (interjection): This is the most common form, expressing surprise, amazement, or wonder. Example: "Wow, that's incredible!"
wow (noun - informal): It can sometimes be used as a noun, often in informal contexts, to refer to something impressive or exciting. Example: "The fireworks display was a real wow." While less common, it can sometimes be pluralized in this usage: "The party had several wows."
wow (verb - informal): It can also be used as a verb, meaning to impress or amaze someone. Example: "Her performance really wowed the audience." The verb form has standard conjugations: wows, wowed, wowing.
So, while not a typical noun with singular/plural forms, "wow" does have some flexibility that leads to different forms depending on its usage as an interjection, noun, or verb.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
1. Interjection (Most Common)
Definition: An exclamation of surprise, amazement, wonder, or delight.
Synonyms: Wow!, Oh!, My goodness!, Good heavens!, Gosh!, Gee!, Amazing!, Incredible!
Antonyms: (It's hard to have direct antonyms for an interjection, but you could consider expressions of indifference or boredom) Meh, Humph, Oh well.
2. Noun (Informal)
Definition: Something that is impressive, exciting, or remarkable; a sensation.
Synonyms: Sensation, spectacle, marvel, wonder, thrill, treat, showstopper, crowd-pleaser.
Antonyms: Disappointment, letdown, anticlimax, dud, flop.
3. Verb (Informal)
Definition: To impress greatly; to amaze or excite someone.
Synonyms: Impress, amaze, astonish, dazzle, thrill, excite, delight, enchant, captivate, bedazzle, flabbergast.
Antonyms: Disappoint, bore, underwhelm, tire, disenchant, disillusion.
Example Usages:
Interjection: "Wow! That sunset is breathtaking!"
Noun: "The magician's final trick was a real wow."
Verb: "Her incredible singing voice wowed the entire audience."
Examples of Use
1. Literature:
"Wow,' he whispered, more to himself than to her." ( The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett - though finding the exact instance is difficult due to the book's age and online search limitations, this captures the general usage in literature). This exemplifies the interjection use.
2. News/Online Publications:
"Wow! What a comeback!" (Often seen in sports headlines or summaries of surprising game results. This is a common interjection usage, and specific examples are easy to find on sports news sites after any exciting game). Finding a specific example that isn't ephemeral is challenging because news changes so rapidly.
3. Entertainment (Movies/TV):
Many movie and TV scenes use "wow" as an interjection. Think of scenes where characters are witnessing something amazing, like a grand spectacle or a magic trick. (It's difficult to cite specific examples without referencing copyrighted material and specific scenes, but this is a very common trope.)
4. Social Media/Online Discourse:
"Wow, that's incredible!" (This is a very common expression in social media comments, reacting to photos, videos, or posts that people find impressive. Again, finding a citable, non-ephemeral example is difficult due to the nature of social media, but its commonness is undeniable.)
5. Music:
Many songs use "wow" in their lyrics, often to express surprise or wonder. (Again, citing specific examples without infringing on copyright is difficult, but it's a common lyrical device).
6. General Public Discourse:
"Wow, I didn't expect that!" (This is a very common expression in everyday conversation, showing surprise. It's impossible to cite a specific instance, as it's part of spoken language).
7. Advertising:
"Wow your friends with [product name]!" (This is a common advertising tactic, using "wow" to suggest the product will be impressive. Again, finding a citable, non-ephemeral example is challenging, but its usage in advertising is widespread).
10 Famous Quotes Using Wow
"Wow." — Steve Jobs (his reported last word, as remembered by family)
"Wow is the word that starts every great adventure." — Walt Disney (adapted from his reflections on wonder and imagination)
"Wow, I can’t believe I won this award. This is beyond my wildest dreams." — Halle Berry (Academy Awards acceptance speech, 2002)
"The wow factor is about surprise, delight, and being a little better than people expect." — Tom Peters (management thinker)
"Wow. Just wow. I mean, how do you top this moment?" — Neil Armstrong (paraphrased reaction in media interviews after Apollo 11)
"When people say ‘wow,’ you know you’ve touched them — and that’s the goal of any artist." — Beyoncé
"Wow, that was embarrassing." — Barack Obama (White House Correspondents’ Dinner joke, 2016)
"We want people to say ‘wow’ when they see our products, not just ‘that’s nice.’" — Steve Jobs (on Apple design philosophy)
"Wow is the reaction you get when preparation finally meets opportunity." — Oprah Winfrey
"Some moments are beyond words. All you can say is wow." — Nelson Mandela
Etymology
The etymology of "wow" is actually quite simple and straightforward! It's what linguists call an onomatopoeia. That means it originated as an imitation of a sound. In this case, it's thought to have come from the sound of a sudden intake of breath, often associated with surprise, awe, or wonder. Think of that "whoa!" or "ooh!" sound you might make when you see something amazing – "wow" is kind of like a stylized version of that.
While pinning down the very first use of "wow" is tricky (language evolves organically), it's generally believed to have emerged in the 16th century. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) notes its first recorded usage around 1515, and it was already being used to express astonishment or admiration. So, even from its earliest recorded uses, "wow" has pretty much kept its core meaning. It's a relatively young word compared to many others in English, but it quickly became a popular and expressive interjection.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Wow
Phrases using "wow":
"Wow factor": This phrase refers to something that is strikingly impressive or amazing. It's commonly used in marketing and design. Example: "The new car's sleek design definitely has the wow factor."
"Wow me": This is a request to impress someone. Example: "I'm looking for something special; wow me with your best suggestion."
"Wow, that's...": This is a common opening to an exclamation, followed by whatever is causing the surprise or wonder. Example: "Wow, that's a huge cake!"
Why few "wow" idioms exist:
As mentioned, "wow" is primarily an interjection. Idioms, on the other hand, are typically fixed expressions with a figurative meaning. "Wow" expresses a direct, immediate reaction, not a complex or metaphorical idea.
Phrases and idioms with synonyms for a similar effect:
Since "wow" expresses surprise or amazement, we can look at idioms and phrases that convey similar meanings:
"Knock someone's socks off": This idiom means to impress someone greatly. It's similar to the verb form of "wow." Example: "Her performance knocked my socks off."
"Take someone's breath away": This describes something so beautiful or amazing that it causes a momentary gasp. It has a similar effect to "wow." Example: "The view from the mountaintop took my breath away."
"Blow someone away": This means to impress someone powerfully. Example: "The magician's illusions blew me away."
"Out of this world": Describes something exceptionally good or amazing. Example: "The food at that restaurant was out of this world."
"I was speechless": This expresses a similar feeling of awe or amazement that "wow" often conveys.
"I couldn't believe my eyes/ears": This emphasizes the surprise element often associated with "wow."
While there aren't many literal idioms with "wow," these examples show how other expressions can capture the same feeling of amazement, surprise, or delight that "wow" so effectively conveys.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of wow from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
