oh
intjUK /əʊ/ · US /oʊ/
Etymology Inherited from Middle English o.
10 senses
- 1Expression of surprise.
- 2Expression of wonder, amazement, or awe.
- 3Expression of understanding, affirmation, recognition…
- 4A word to precede an annoyed remark.
- 5A word to precede an added or offhand comment or afterthought.
- 6An invocation or address (similar to the vocative in…
- 7Exclamation for drama or emphasis.
- 8Expression of pain. See ouch.
- 9Space filler or extra syllable, especially in (popular) music.
- 10Expression of mild scepticism.
1
Expression of surprise.
- Oh! I didn't see you there.
2
Expression of wonder, amazement, or awe.
- Oh, wow! That's amazing.
3
Expression of understanding, affirmation, recognition, or realization.
- Oh, so that's how it works.
4
A word to precede an annoyed remark.
- Oh, leave me alone.
5
A word to precede an added or offhand comment or afterthought.
- Oh, and don't forget your coat.
- What if he says, "Oh, I need to see your ID"?
6
An invocation or address (similar to the vocative in languages with noun declension), often with a term of endearment.
- Oh, gosh.
- Oh baby, baby, how was I supposed to know / That something wasn't right here?1998, Max Martin, ...Baby One More Time (song performed by Britney Spears)
7
Often, Poetic Exclamation for drama or emphasis.
- Oh, when will it end?
- Oh by what plots, by what forſwearings, betrayings, oppreſsions, impriſonments, tortures, poyſonings, and vnder what reaſons of State, and politique ſubteltie, haue theſe forenamed Kings, […] pulled the vengeance of GOD vpon them-ſelues, […]1614, Walter Ralegh [i.e., Walter Raleigh], “The Preface”, in The Historie of the World […], London: […] William Stansby for Walter Burre, […], →OCLC:
1 more example
- And oh how stingingly acute, and pungently grievous and tormentive, are the remembrancing Reflections of a separate uncloathed Soul in the other World, upon a review of its mad Choice, foolish Hopes, fruitless Desires […]1703, Lawrence Smith, The Evidence of Things Not Seen, page 143:
8
Expression of pain. See ouch.
- Oh! That hurt.
- "Oh! Oh!——I can't bear it————It is too much.——I die.—————I am going——" were Polly's expreſſions of extaſy: […]1749, [John Cleland], “[Letter the First]”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], volume I, London: […] [Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], →OCLC, page 83:
9
Space filler or extra syllable, especially in (popular) music.
- I'm off with the raggle-taggle gypsy-oh.1968, MacKinlay Kantor, Beauty Beast:
10
Interrogative Expression of mild scepticism.
- "You should watch where you're going!" "Oh?"
- Derived terms
44 terms
oh ar, oh boy, oh dear, oh girl, oh God, oh gods, oh hell, oh joy, oh man, oh me of little faith, oh me oh my, oh my, oh my Allah, oh my days, oh my fuck, oh my God, oh my Goddess, oh my gods, oh my goodness, oh my goodness gracious, ohmygosh, oh my gosh, oh my heck, oh my hell, oh my lanta, oh my life, oh my Lord, oh my stars, oh my word, oh my Zeus, oh no, oh noes, oh oh, oh really, oh snap, oh so, oh well, oh worm, oh yeah, oh ye of little faith, soot-oh, uh oh, uhoh, why oh why