pow

[ pou ]

See synonyms for pow on Thesaurus.com

interjection

(used to express or indicate a heavy blow or a loud, explosive noise.)

noun

a heavy blow or a loud, explosive noise.
the power of exciting.

adjective

exciting and appealing.

Origin of pow

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Words Nearby pow

Other definitions for pow (2 of 3)

pow²

[ poh, pou ]

nounScot. and North England.

the head; poll.

Origin of pow

First recorded in 1715–25; variant of poll¹

Other definitions for POW (3 of 3)

POW

prisoner of war.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pow in a sentence

A map shows each station on the route, along with marking pow camps and other landmarks along the way.
Riding Thailand’s WWII Death Railway | Liza Foreman | December 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
He cites an interview that a freed pow, Air Force Lt. Col. William Harrison, gave to The New York Times in 1953.
The Luxury Homes That Torture and Your Tax Dollars Built | Michael Daly | December 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
And when rappers battle one another with their wits and words, it is similar to the bam-pow!
Bam! Pow! Bling! Hip-Hop's History Gets the Graphic Novel Treatment | Daniel Genis | August 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
For years, the Obama administration avoided calling Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl a pow.
White House Changes Tune on Bergdahl, Says He Was a ‘Prisoner of War’ | Josh Rogin | June 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
When the risks and results of fighting are not equally distributed, we default to a world that delivers “Bow-wow pow.”
The Taliban Trolled the Internet with a Dog Video and Upstaged an American POW | Brian Van Reet | February 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

She's done got a pow'ful quick tempah, my Miss Betty has, same's all my Somerset family had, bein' fust quality folks lak dey was.
Dorothy at Skyrie | Evelyn Raymond
He was a skittish horse, gentle, as Andy explained, but "pow'ful nervous—had to be sort o' coaxed along."
The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle | Laura Lee Hope
There was a grand "pow-wow," as William called it, after he came.
The Banner Boy Scouts on a Tour | George A. Warren
Why should he be permitted to defile with the fat of his sleek locks a crown intended to adorn the grizzled pow of his elders?
The Fiend's Delight | Dod Grile
Among the neighboring Cherokees, was one named Silouee, celebrated as a chief and pow-wow, or medicine man.
The Indian: On the Battle-Field and in the Wigwam | John Frost

British Dictionary definitions for pow (1 of 4)

pow¹

/ (paʊ) /

interjection

an exclamation imitative of a collision, explosion, etc

British Dictionary definitions for pow (2 of 4)

pow²

/ (paʊ) /

noun

Scot the head or a head of hair

Origin of pow

a Scot variant of poll

British Dictionary definitions for pow (3 of 4)

pow³

/ (paʊ) /

noun

Scot a creek or slow stream

Origin of pow

C15: from earlier Scots poll

British Dictionary definitions for POW (4 of 4)

POW

abbreviation for

prisoner of war

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

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