What does wowed mean?
“Wowed” is the past tense and past participle of “wow,” a verb meaning to impress or amaze someone greatly. It describes a strong, usually positive reaction to a performance, achievement, appearance, experience, or other remarkable event. The word is common in informal speech and writing, where it adds emotional emphasis: a speaker may say that a show “wowed” the audience or that someone was “absolutely wowed” by a result. Its meaning is broader than simple admiration and often suggests a moment of astonishment or wonder. Although “wowed” can follow the linking verbs “was” and “were,” it is also used transitively, as in “the performance wowed the crowd.” The form is especially associated with public performances and memorable experiences, but it can apply to almost anything that makes a strong impression. It is understood throughout British and American English.
verbThe past tense and past participle of wow: to impress or amaze someone greatly.
- To impress or amaze someone greatly; to fill someone with admiration.
"The audience was wowed by the young violinist's astonishing performance."
"The magician wowed the crowd with a disappearing act."
"She was absolutely wowed by the view from the rooftop."
"The new technology wowed visitors at the exhibition."
“Wowed” captures the moment when something so impressive leaves an audience speechless.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of wowed
“Wowed” is an English inflection of the verb “wow,” which developed from the English interjection “wow,” an expression of surprise or admiration. The verb and interjection have long been closely connected in modern usage, and “wowed” is the simple past form used in both finite and participial constructions. Related forms include “wower,” a person who wows or impresses, and the informal “wowster,” a person regarded as impressive or attention-getting.
Related word forms
How wowed is actually used
Informal and often hyperbolic, especially in conversational English. It is more expressive than simply “impressed” and can be used in British and American English.
Easily confused with wowed
“Wowed” is the inflected form of “wow,” while “wove” is the past tense of “weave,” meaning to interlace threads or yarn.