wow

Etymology 1

Attested since the 16th century; borrowed from Scots wow; ultimately a natural exclamation.

intj

1. An indication of excitement, surprise, astonishment, or pleasure.
   Wow, I sure was surprised!
   Out on thir wanderand spiritis, wow! thow cryis. 1513, Gavin Douglas, Virgil Æneid (translation) vi. Prol. 19
2. An expression of amazement, awe, or admiration.
   Wow! How do they do that?
3. Used sarcastically to express disapproval of something.
   Wow… good job using all of our supplies on the first day.

verb

1. (transitive, informal) To amaze or awe.
   He really wowed the audience.
   If all of us can remember how great it felt to be wowed, why don't we make it a habit to do it more often for others? People remember you when you wow them, so to differentiate yourself with your clients and customers, think of doing something that would make them remember you. 2015, Joe Sweeney, Mike Yorkey, Moving the Needle, John Wiley & Sons, page 200
   We have the worst of both worlds: the royal family gives us nothing, and we in turn legitimise it, give it meaning and audience and pay, through subsidies and tax exemptions, for its ability to wow us. 2023-05-08, Nesrine Malik, “The coronation pulled a screen across a desperate, failing nation – just as intended”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

noun

1. (informal) Anything exceptionally surprising, unbelievable, outstanding, etc.
   He did? That's a wow!
   ‘And say, Jimmy, wait till you see me in my new outfit...It’s a wow, kid.’ 1932, Delos W. Lovelace, King Kong, published 1965, page 144

Etymology 2

Imitative.

noun

1. (audio) A relatively slow form of flutter (pitch variation) which can affect both gramophone records and tape recorders.
   Sound films have to be loaded so that the sound is 5 seconds before the sound drum so a wow does not result when the film is punched up on the air. 1970, Larry G. Goodwin, Thomas Koehring, Closed-circuit Television Production Techniques, page 80