Pow

/paʊ/

interjection

A sound made to symbolize an impact or explosion.

Pow! The superhero punched the villian.

Often appears as...

pow! pow!
pow! right in the kisser

noun

A comic book expression for a punch or hit.

In the comic book, the word 'pow' represented a powerful punch.

Often appears as...

pow! pow!
pow hit

abbreviation

Prisoner of War, a person, especially a member of the armed forces, who has been captured by the enemy during war.

Many POWs were held captive in enemy state during World War II.

Often appears as...

pow camp
pow status

Usage tips

Formal

Technical

interjection

A sound made to symbolize an impact or explosion.

Pow! The superhero punched the villian.

Often appears as...

pow! pow!
pow! right in the kisser

noun

A comic book expression for a punch or hit.

In the comic book, the word 'pow' represented a powerful punch.

Often appears as...

pow! pow!
pow hit

abbreviation

Prisoner of War, a person, especially a member of the armed forces, who has been captured by the enemy during war.

Many POWs were held captive in enemy state during World War II.

Often appears as...

pow camp
pow status

Usage tips

Formal

Technical

Definition 1 of 3

Pro Tip 1/3

Onomatopoeic Use

Used to mimic sounds, usually in storytelling or playful conversation.

And then, pow! The fireworks started.

Pro Tip 2/3

Emphasizing Action

Highlights the action's suddenness or forcefulness, often in a comic or exaggerated way.

'I'll just give it a little twist and—pow!—the lid came off.'

Pro Tip 3/3

Sound of Surprise

Can express surprise or shock, akin to 'wow' but with a punchier impact.

'I turned around, and pow! There was a surprise party for me!'

Pro Tip 1/3

Onomatopoeic Use

Used to mimic sounds, usually in storytelling or playful conversation.

And then, pow! The fireworks started.

Pro Tip 2/3

Emphasizing Action

Highlights the action's suddenness or forcefulness, often in a comic or exaggerated way.

'I'll just give it a little twist and—pow!—the lid came off.'

Pro Tip 3/3

Sound of Surprise

Can express surprise or shock, akin to 'wow' but with a punchier impact.

'I turned around, and pow! There was a surprise party for me!'

Pro Tip 1/3

Onomatopoeic Use

Used to mimic sounds, usually in storytelling or playful conversation.

And then, pow! The fireworks started.

Pro Tip 2/3

Emphasizing Action

Highlights the action's suddenness or forcefulness, often in a comic or exaggerated way.

'I'll just give it a little twist and—pow!—the lid came off.'

Pro Tip 3/3

Sound of Surprise

Can express surprise or shock, akin to 'wow' but with a punchier impact.

'I turned around, and pow! There was a surprise party for me!'

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Video examples

My journey from Marine...

But then one out of the three good-for-nothings gets it to the head -- pow! And number two swings blindly into the dark cape before him, but before his fist hits anything, I grab a trash can lid and -- right in the gut! And number one comes back with the jump kick, but I know judo karate, too, so I'm like --

Video examples

Attempted Assassination...

mr. president and his hand goes up he looks this way Brady was coming across and then pow pow pow pow pow

Video examples

My journey from Marine...

Video examples

Attempted Assassination...

mr. president and his hand goes up he looks this way Brady was coming across and then pow pow pow pow pow

Example 1 of 2

Quote examples

James F. Amos

American General

There's not really a ban on the KIA bracelet specifically. There are regulations for wearing the uniform and specifically jewelry, and Marines are not allowed to wear bracelets. This falls under that spectrum. Now, the KIA bracelet will be lumped into the same category as the POW/MIA bracelets, which are approved for wear.

Quote examples

Dries van Noten

Belgian Designer

Sometimes, to stimulate your imagination you have to be careful you don't have too much information. You can Google something, and it's in your face, pow! You don't have time to dream any more about it.

Quote examples

Brandon Webb

American Soldier

Three days doesn't sound like a very long time, and under normal, everyday circumstances, it's not - but under POW camp conditions, it doesn't take long to wear down a man's sanity.

Quote examples

E-40

American Musician

In the early '90s, Too Short was like one of the first dudes who kinda discovered Lil Jon. So I always used to see him at concerts and we'd pow wow - a good dude, you know?

Quote examples

Kellyanne Conway

American Businesswoman

Very few people know anybody like John McCain, someone who suffered and had his body, yet not his spirit, broken for six years as a POW and who has served his nation.

Quote examples

John Yoo

American Educator

Without territory, it does not even have the resources to provide detention facilities for prisoners, even if it were interested in holding captured POWs.

Quote examples

Gene Green

American Politician

It takes time to understand the difference between civilian POWs and military POWs. There's an educational process.

Quote examples

Bo Gritz

American Soldier

I went overseas hoping to prove that all our POWs were home. I came back convinced that they were still alive.

Quote examples

Andrew Vachss

American Author

A kid in an abusive home has far fewer rights than any POW. There is no Geneva Convention for kids.

Quote examples

Rohan Marley

American Athlete

I like hitting people. The best feeling is when you hit so hard, pow! You get a jarring headache.

Quote examples

James F. Amos

American General

There's not really a ban on the KIA bracelet specifically. There are regulations for wearing the uniform and specifically jewelry, and Marines are not allowed to wear bracelets. This falls under that spectrum. Now, the KIA bracelet will be lumped into the same category as the POW/MIA bracelets, which are approved for wear.

Quote examples

Dries van Noten

Belgian Designer

Sometimes, to stimulate your imagination you have to be careful you don't have too much information. You can Google something, and it's in your face, pow! You don't have time to dream any more about it.

Quote examples

Brandon Webb

American Soldier

Three days doesn't sound like a very long time, and under normal, everyday circumstances, it's not - but under POW camp conditions, it doesn't take long to wear down a man's sanity.

Quote examples

E-40

American Musician

In the early '90s, Too Short was like one of the first dudes who kinda discovered Lil Jon. So I always used to see him at concerts and we'd pow wow - a good dude, you know?

Quote examples

Kellyanne Conway

American Businesswoman

Very few people know anybody like John McCain, someone who suffered and had his body, yet not his spirit, broken for six years as a POW and who has served his nation.

Quote examples

John Yoo

American Educator

Without territory, it does not even have the resources to provide detention facilities for prisoners, even if it were interested in holding captured POWs.

Quote examples

Gene Green

American Politician

It takes time to understand the difference between civilian POWs and military POWs. There's an educational process.

Quote examples

Bo Gritz

American Soldier

I went overseas hoping to prove that all our POWs were home. I came back convinced that they were still alive.

Quote examples

Andrew Vachss

American Author

A kid in an abusive home has far fewer rights than any POW. There is no Geneva Convention for kids.

Quote examples

Rohan Marley

American Athlete

I like hitting people. The best feeling is when you hit so hard, pow! You get a jarring headache.

Example 1 of 10

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