oh
interjection
(used as an expression of surprise, pain, disapproval, etc.).
oh
1 American
[oh]
/ oʊ /
interjection
-
(used as an expression of surprise, pain, disapproval, etc.).
Oh, just look at how pretty it is now that you've finished painting!
Oh, no! I misplaced my keys again.
-
(used in direct address to attract the attention of the person spoken to).
Oh, John, will you take these books?
noun
-
oh's,
plural
-
ohs
plural
verb (used without object)
Oh
2
American
[oh]
/ oʊ /
noun
OH
3
American
abbreviation
-
Ohio (approved especially for use with zip code).
-
(used in digital communications) other half.
-
(used in digital communications) overheard.
oh
1
British
/ əʊ /
interjection
OH
2
British
abbreviation
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of oh
First recorded in 1530–40; later spelling of O 2 ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“My brother is the other caregiver, and he’s a lot more sensitive. I’m just like, oh, no, you need me. I’m going to make sure you’re OK,” she said.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026
"Oh my goodness - oh my, and I do look like me, don't I?"
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
He didn’t choose to go for it on fourth-and-7 with 7:15 to play — oh wait, actually, yeah, that one’s on Riley.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026
He’s sneering, which is bad enough, but now, oh boy, he does the Thing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
“Grandma showed up on my birthday six weeks ago with Grandpa’s old riding mower. I’ve taken on, oh, a few yard jobs since then.”
From "Lawn Boy Returns" by Gary Paulsen
So when his faithful status was revealed, she exclaimed: "Oh my God, my love was real!"
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
Oh, and if you didn’t think a novel set in the world of poetry could be comical, you’d be wrong.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
Oh, yes, he was told: The stories “couldn’t hold a candle to the reality.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
Oh, and if you rent but you still want exposure to the real-estate market, you could always take that 20% down payment you were saving up and invest it in a bunch of residential REITs.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026
“You look after it, and look after my story too. I should like people to know about it. Oh, and do not forget to bring me my photograph album tomorrow, will you?”
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
One such message from an agent said: "OH MY GOD! There is a shared message board … We've found other agents!"
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
Continued heating produces ferric hydroxysulfate, where OH replaces H2O in the mineral structure.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 10, 2026
The 18-team table is led by three-time winners Barcelona, who swept aside Belgian European debutants OH Leuven 3-0.
From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2025
“I’ve seen the doc and listened to the podcasts and OH MY GOD.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2024
Nancy swallowed and said, "Three words: OH MY GOSH!"
From "Scream for Ice Cream: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #2" by Carolyn Keene
The oh’s and ah’s from my sisters were wonderful to hear.
From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls
O--oh Smith,"--nearly all Gholson's oh's were groans--"why is he here?
From The Cavalier by George Washington Cable
And down she tumbled on the floor, and sang, since there was nothing to be said, round ah's and oh's.
From Jacob's Room by Virginia Woolf
The oh’s and ah’s and exclamations of approval, resultant of fairy cocktails, rewarded Beatrice for her expenditure.
From The Gorgeous Girl by Nalbro Bartley
Their "oh's" and "ah's" were genuine as they looked at the two rooms; the numbers were about equally divided between those who preferred the restful room and those who preferred the fussy and gaudy one.
From Brenda's Bargain A Story for Girls by Helen Leah Reed
There were repeated "oohs," "ahhs," "ohs" and other vocalizings that reminded us just how remarkable an instrument the pliant Plant voice remains, even as he approaches turning 70 in August.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 3, 2018
Ocean says he spent weeks working on just the vocal tone of the four "ohs" that open the track.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 14, 2012
She shouts her way through bits and sings along to the tune, voice soaring into the almost screamed oh oh ohs.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 12, 2011
Her multitracked vocals appear first, in a waft of elfin ahs and ohs, before she starts a syncopated bass line, digging hard into a groove.
From New York Times ● Aug. 15, 2010
Her accent wasn’t perfect, a little too long on the ohs and too tight in the back of the throat, but it was really quite good.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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