pow

[ pou ]

/ paʊ /

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.

QUIZZES

Can You Ace This Quiz About “Compliment” vs. “Complement”?

Take this quiz to see if you really know the difference between “compliment” and “complement"!

Question 1 of 11

“Compliment” and “complement” had a shared meaning a long time ago, but today they are no longer interchangeable.

True

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Origin of pow

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Words nearby pow

poverty level, poverty line, poverty trap, poverty-stricken, povidone-iodine, pow, powan, powassan encephalitis, poway, powder, powder blue

Definition for pow (2 of 3)

pow²

[ poh, pou ]

/ poʊ, paʊ /

noun Scot. and North England.

the head; poll.

Origin of pow

First recorded in 1715–25; variant of poll¹

Definition for pow (3 of 3)

POW

or P.O.W.

prisoner of war.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for pow

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|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|DAILY BEAST
But following the POW exchange deal, his conscience tormented him.
Secret Document Shows that NSA Shares Americans' Data With Israel|Orly Halpern|September 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Unwittingly, the Ukrainian-born, German POW and death camp guard reversed over 140 years of German jurisprudence.
How to Try a Nazi|Richard Rashke|September 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Then, when the war ended, the POW barracks were sent to Grambling to be used for faculty housing.
Eddie Robinson, College Football’s Winningest Coach|Samuel G. Freedman|August 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
No, Allen am not educated, but can he preach a pow'ful sermon.
Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves.|Work Projects Administration
"Which gives him a pow'ful sight uv freedom," said Long Jim.
The Free Rangers|Joseph A. Altsheler
Dat's a pow'ful good-lookin' suit o' clo'es what L'tenant Greenfeel got awn.
Kincaid's Battery|George W. Cable
Who are these Six Nations, whose name sounds so pow'ful big up here?
The Scouts of the Valley|Joseph A. Altsheler
I tell you what it is, honey, I'se gettin' pow'ful skeered 'bout dat cousin ob yourn.
The Minute Boys of York Town|James Otis

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

Word Origin for pow

a Scot variant of poll

British Dictionary definitions for pow (3 of 4)

pow³

/ (paʊ) /

noun

Scot a creek or slow stream

Word Origin for 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

pow

interjection

noun

adjective

QUIZZES

Origin of pow

Words nearby pow

Definition for pow (2 of 3)

noun Scot. and North England.

Origin of pow

Definition for pow (3 of 3)

or P.O.W.

Words related to pow

Example sentences from the Web for pow

British Dictionary definitions for pow (1 of 4)

interjection

British Dictionary definitions for pow (2 of 4)

noun

Word Origin for pow

British Dictionary definitions for pow (3 of 4)

noun

Word Origin for pow

British Dictionary definitions for pow (4 of 4)

abbreviation for