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whoa
[ woh, hwoh ]
interjection
- (used to command an animal, especially a horse, to stop.)
- (used to tell a person to stop, wait, or slow down):
Whoa, you need to sit over there and calm yourself.
- (an exclamation of surprise, wonder, pleasure, etc.):
Whoa, that's a great photo!
whoa
/ əʊ /
interjection
- a command used esp to horses to stop or slow down
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of whoa1
Example Sentences
If someone’s focused on something we’re like, “Whoa, what is it?”
“We’d just pick off a few of the bad actors, so the others would go, whoa, and back off,” she said.
Pam and Mona and I have all been looking at each other with like, ‘Whoa.’
But when the Lakers are at their best — and whoa, they were certainly at their best Sunday — they can prove to everyone, especially themselves, that their combination of otherworldly individual offensive talent and versatile, scrambling defense can hold down even the most talented of teams.
“People come to the game and go, ‘Whoa, who’s No. 11?’” assistant basketball coach Derrick Taylor said in 1999.
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More About Whoa
doeswhoa mean?
Whoa is used to express that something is impressive, surprising, or astounding, as in Whoa! Look at that sunset! In this sense, it’s very similar to wow.
Whoa is also used as a command to stop. This command is especially associated with its use to get a horse to stop or slow down.
Whoa is an interjection, meaning it’s typically used by itself outside of a sentence.
Some people spell it woah.
Example: When I told Keanu that the horse was running right at him, he just stood there and said, “Whoa.”
Where doeswhoa come from?
The first records of the word whoa are in reference to the command to stop, especially when given to a horse. It’s thought to be a variant of the word ho, which was an earlier way of commanding a horse to stop (and a good way to remember that it’s spelled whoa).
It’s still used as a command to stop for horses and people, as in Whoa there, slow down or OK, whoa, let’s not celebrate until all the votes are in.
The first records of the use of whoa as an interjection when impressed or surprised come from the late 1800s. This is how it’s most often used today. People say whoa when they see or hear something impressive, as in Whoa, that looks delicious! or Whoa, lightning just hit the tree! Whoa isn’t always exclaimed. Sometimes, it’s said softly to express amazement. This is especially the case when whoa is used as a one-word response. For example, if someone tells you something really surprising, you might just say, “Whoa.”
Did you know ... ?
How iswhoa used in real life?
Whoa is very informal. It’s most often used to show that you’re impressed.
Whoa ‼️ just happened 😲
Impressive skills 👏👏👏
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC)
Whoa! Incredible shot of the storm that just passed BDL from Alexandra Lukianoff in Hartford.
— Ryan Hanrahan (@ryanhanrahan)
As a former cowboy I can tell you that horses ONLY respond to whoa 😉
— Eric Leach (@flyineric)
https://twitter.com/ryanhanrahan/status/1259987936768122886/photo/1
Try usingwhoa!
Is whoa used correctly in this sentence?
Whoa, that roller-coaster ride was intense!
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