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:
It was a “classic sort of rose-colored glasses, ‘We thought, oh, the potential market’s huge,’ but in retrospect it wasn’t,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
“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
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
"And then he stopped and I thought, oh now, now he's gonna pull himself together and say something more appropriate," Earl Spencer said.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Baba froze, gaping at the devastation, while Mama said, "Habibi, oh, habibi..." and wrapped her arms around me.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
I think that as we get closer, that’s where people are like, Oh, he’s making us nervous.
From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2026
Depending on how much you add, you might even get a delectable little Oh, what is that? pucker at the end of each bite.
From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026
Oh yes, that extra nickel is before taxes.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026
Stronger technology and greater investment capacity were necessary to compete globally, Oh said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
"Oh, no? I can prove it to you: he's tall, thin, has a pointy nose, a big fallen mustache, and grayish hair," the other knight boasted.
From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios
Continued heating produces ferric hydroxysulfate, where OH replaces H2O in the mineral structure.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 10, 2026
Defending champions Arsenal secured a seeded play-off spot, alongside debutants Manchester United, with a 3-0 victory over OH Leuven on Wednesday.
From BBC ● Dec. 17, 2025
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
“Not to completely go bananas here, but OH MY GOSH!”
From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega
The oh’s and ah’s from my sisters were wonderful to hear.
From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls
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
Now he took the hands of Arthur and Isabel together, and Mrs. Morris laughed more sweetly and with more oh's and ho's than ever; for Isabel sedately kissed Arthur's brother.
From Bylow Hill by F. C. (Frederick Coffay) Yohn
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 name was duly examined, and Mrs. Evringham's "oh's" of wonder and admiration were long-drawn.
From Jewel's Story Book by Clara Louise Burnham
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
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.
