# ooh

/ˈu/ (US) · /ˈuː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ooh
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. surprise or awe

interjection · CEFR B1 · Informal

a sound you make when you are impressed, surprised, or think something is beautiful.

For teachers: an exclamation used to express surprise, admiration, or pleasure.

- Ooh, look at those beautiful fireworks in the sky.
- Ooh, I had no idea you were planning such an elaborate surprise for the anniversary party.

### 2. to make the sound

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to say 'ooh' because you are excited or impressed.

For teachers: to exclaim with a sound of surprise or pleasure; frequently paired with 'aah'.

- The crowd started to ooh and aah as the acrobats performed.
- The audience continued to ooh and aah throughout the performance, clearly captivated by the intricate choreography and vibrant costumes.

## Examples

- The crowd began to ooh as the fireworks filled the sky.
- Shoppers would often ooh at the elaborate holiday displays in the department store windows.
- While the marketing team hoped the audience would ooh at the new sleek design, the focus groups remained surprisingly silent during the product reveal.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.