First recorded in 1965–70
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I hate to use this word, because it’s kind of ew, but mahjong is a social lubricant,” said Joanne Xu, 28, co-founder of Green Tile Social Club, a New York pop-up club.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
Upon returning with his pad see ew, Lee began slamming dishes around, passive-aggressively communicating his annoyance that my attention hadn’t immediately shifted back to him after his return home.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2022
I am the KrumblyGhast, risen from your ornament box with ash and apple breezes, October cheer and a rib cage full of … ew, what is that?
From New York Times • Sep. 30, 2022
Alexis only says "ew, David" a handful of times in the entire thing, so what's become a catchphrase of hers in the world of memes isn't actually a massive part of the TV character.
From BBC • Nov. 3, 2021
Stared at the words in my notebook, my captive poem: Redrum sekil oh weki ekil ew.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
