# whoa

/ˈhoʊ/ (US) · /wˈəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/whoa
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 3. to command to stop

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · Dialect

to tell an animal, like a horse, to stop by saying the word 'whoa'.

For teachers: to command an animal to slow down or stop by vocalising the interjection 'whoa'.

- The rider tried to whoa the horse as they approached the gate.
- The farmer managed to whoa the team of oxen just before they reached the edge of the muddy bank.

Usage: Used transitively, meaning the verb takes the animal as its object.

Teaching tip: This verb use is quite rare and mostly found in rural or equestrian contexts.

## Examples

- Whoa, that car is incredibly fast.
- Whoa, slow down a second and tell me exactly what happened at the meeting.
- The crowd let out a collective whoa as the acrobat performed a triple flip without the safety net, momentarily silencing the entire arena.

---

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.