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Synonyms

oops

American  
[oops, oops] / ʊps, ups /

interjection

  1. (used to express mild dismay, chagrin, surprise, etc., as at one's own mistake, a clumsy act, or social blunder.)

oops British  
/ ʊps, uːps /

interjection

  1. an exclamation of surprise or of apology as when someone drops something or makes a mistake

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of oops

First recorded in 1925–30; origin uncertain

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.

Just like the girl you thought was your soulmate but, oops, she was just playing with your heart and got lost in the game.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 24, 2023

BTS stepped aside, and so did Serena Williams, and Tom Brady too — oops, scratch that.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 8, 2022

The Yankees get a big oops in the chat.

From New York Times • Aug. 11, 2022

It isn’t happenstance, an uncomfortable accident, that Rogan and his words ended up on Spotify’s platform, and now, oops, he just has to be dealt with.

From The Verge • Mar. 1, 2022

I look that way and oops, there’s Gene, doing his best impression of a fixated hyena or grizzly or something.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

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.