pow

[ pou ]

/ paʊ /

SEE MORE 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.

Nearby words

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

Origin of pow

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Definition for pow (2 of 3)

pow

[ 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. 2019

Examples 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)

pow

/ (paʊ) /

interjection

an exclamation imitative of a collision, explosion, etc

British Dictionary definitions for pow (2 of 4)

pow

/ (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)

pow

/ (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