Word
whoa
US/ˈhoʊ/
UK/wˈəʊ/
Definitions
01stop or slow down
B1 · Intermediate Informal
interj. you say this to tell someone to stop moving or to slow down because they are going too fast.
interj. used to command a person or animal to stop or reduce speed; often used figuratively to suggest someone is being too hasty in their judgment.
“Whoa, slow down a second. You are talking so fast that I cannot understand you.”
“Whoa, let us not jump to conclusions before we have seen all the evidence from the laboratory.”
02showing surprise
B1 · Intermediate Informal
interj. you say this when you are very surprised or impressed by something.
interj. an exclamation of surprise, amazement, or awe.
“Whoa, look at that sunset. The sky is completely purple.”
“Whoa, I did not realize the new office building was going to be this massive.”
03commanding a horse
B2 · Upper Intermediate
interj. a command used to tell a horse to stop walking or running.
interj. the traditional vocal command used by a rider or driver to bring a horse to a halt.
“The rider said whoa and the horse immediately came to a stop.”
“As they reached the edge of the stream, the coachman called out a firm whoa to steady the team.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04to stop an animal
C2 · Proficiency Technical
v. to try to make an animal stop by saying the word whoa.
v. to attempt to slow or halt an animal, typically a horse, by vocalizing the command whoa.
“He tried to whoa the frightened horse, but it kept running toward the gate.”
“The farmer managed to whoa the oxen just before the cart slipped into the muddy ditch.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires an object, usually a horse or draft animal.
Etymology
Whoa (c. 1843) is a variant of woa (c. 1840), itself a variant of wo (c. 1787), from who (c. 1450), ultimately from Middle English ho, hoo (interjection), probably from Old Norse hó! (interjection, also, a shepherd's call). Compare German ho, Old French ho ! (“hold!, halt!”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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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