Word
gosh
US/ˈɡɑʃ/
UK/ɡˈɒʃ/
Definition
interj. you use this when you are surprised or impressed by something.
interj. an exclamation used to convey mild surprise, wonder, or shock; it functions as a 'minced oath' to avoid saying 'God'.
Examples
“Gosh, I didn't see you standing there.”
“Gosh, that is a lot of money to spend on a single pair of shoes.”
“Oh gosh, I had completely forgotten that we were supposed to meet for lunch today, and now I feel terrible for making you wait.”
Examples
simple
“Gosh, I didn't see you standing there.”
contextual
“Gosh, that is a lot of money to spend on a single pair of shoes.”
complex
“Oh gosh, I had completely forgotten that we were supposed to meet for lunch today, and now I feel terrible for making you wait.”
Usage
Usually stands alone at the beginning of a sentence followed by a comma.
Teaching tip
This is a very safe, polite word. It sounds slightly old-fashioned or innocent, making it a good choice for learners who want to avoid stronger language.
Etymology
Altered from God. First seen in 1757 as by gosh, probably from by gosse in Nicholas Udall's Ralph Roister Doister (circa 1553).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Idioms
02. oh my gosh
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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- Informal
QR code
englishreference.com/q/gosh