whew
English
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /hwjuː/, /fjuː/, [ʍĭ̥ŭ̥], [ɸĭ̥ŭ̥] [very short and unvoiced]
Audio (GA): (file) - Rhymes: -uː
- Homophone: phew
Etymology 1
Interjection
whew
- An expressive sound made indicating the release of one's inner tension; the release of breath; an expression of relief.
- (from strenuous labour) Whew! That box weighs a ton!
- (from intense concern) Whew! Thank goodness youʼre safe! I thought something terrible had happened to you!
- (from fear of being seen) Whew! That cop didnʼt see me! That was a close call!
- (from strenuous labour)
- An expression of amazement or surprise.
- 1981, P. L. Travers, chapter 1, in Mary Poppins, revised edition edition:
- "...Now I must be off. Whew, it's as cold as the North Pole. Which way is the wind blowing?"
Synonyms
Related terms
Translations
an expressive sound made indicating the release of one's inner tension
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an expression of amazement or surprise
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
Verb
whew (third-person singular simple present whews, present participle whewing, simple past and past participle whewed)
Etymology 2
Verb
whew (third-person singular simple present whews, present participle whewing, simple past and past participle whewed)
- (intransitive, UK, dialect) To bustle about.
Translations
Categories:
- English 1-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio pronunciation
- Rhymes:English/uː
- Rhymes:English/uː/1 syllable
- English terms with homophones
- English lemmas
- English interjections
- English terms with usage examples
- English terms with quotations
- English verbs
- British English
- Scottish English
- English dialectal terms
- English intransitive verbs
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