WordGarden.iopow
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /pˈaʊ/
US
- /ˈpaʊ/
Meanings
Interjection
used in comics or playful writing to represent a punch, hit, or sudden impact
Noun
a prisoner of war
Beyond the definition
"Pow!" is best known as the sound of a strong hit or a small explosion. It is an exclamation that copies the sharp, sudden noise of impact. Think of a boxer landing a punch, a comic-book fight scene, or something striking with real force. The word is usually playful, dramatic, and informal. Sometimes people also use it more loosely for strong visual or emotional impact, but that use is less common than the sound-effect sense.
The word "pow" is a classic example of onomatopoeia, a word that sounds like the action it describes. It is most strongly linked with comic books, cartoons, and playful storytelling, where it appears as the written sound of a punch, a blast, or a sudden crash. When you see "pow!", you immediately picture force, speed, and impact.
Outside the page, "pow" can still be used to represent any sudden, forceful impact, though it usually keeps a dramatic or humorous tone. You might use it when telling a story about someone getting hit, something crashing into something else, or a moment that lands with sudden force. In a looser figurative way, people sometimes use it for strong style or energy, as in saying a design has extra impact, but this is a secondary use.
Overall, "pow" is not a formal everyday word. It belongs mostly to sound effects, lively narration, and stylized speech. Its main job is simple: to make you hear and feel the instant of a forceful hit or blast.
Examples
- 1
Sound effect
The comic book showed the punch with a huge “Pow!”
- 2
Sudden effect
The door flew open, and pow, the lights went out.
- Phraseand pow
suddenly, with strong effect
- 3
Visual impact
Add a little red to the design, and pow, it feels much more alive.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- pownoun