Whew
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /hwjuː/ · Part of speech interjection
Quick meaning: Whew is an interjection meaning An expressive sound made indicating the release of one's inner tension; the release of breath; an expression of relief.
Meaning
An expressive sound made indicating the release of one's inner tension; the release of breath; an expression of relief.
More Meanings
- An expression of amazement or surprise.
- (UK, Scotland, dialect) To whistle with a shrill pipe, like a plover.
- (intransitive, UK, dialect) To bustle about.
Example Sentences
(from strenuous labour) Whew! That box weighs a ton!
(from fear of being seen) Whew! That cop didnʼt see me! That was a close call!
Now I must be off. Whew, it's as cold as the North Pole. Which way is the wind blowing?
(from intense concern) Whew! Thank goodness youʼre safe! I thought something terrible had happened to you!
Word Forms
- whews
- whewing
- whewed
Synonyms for whew
Depending on context, synonyms include phew, wow.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include oof, ooh, whoa, wow, yuk, yuck.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.