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yow

yow

1 9.9
A loud cry made suddenly to show pain, surprise, or alarm
  • noun
  • /jaʊ/
  • Informal
translation icon : grito
  • >> Brooke: YOW!

Sometimes it gets like a really deep yow.

Examples

  • That the athletic department (mostly in the Debbie Yow era) let it fall into this state of disrepair is criminal, and (behind the legacy of crippling debt and failures in both major revenue sports) is one of their most disappointing acts.

    Blog text (24)
  • ♪ Turn your lights Down low now ♪ ♪ Turn your lights Down low yow ♪ ♪ Turn your lights down low ♪ ♪ And then pull Your window curtains ♪ ♪ Oh, let Jah moon Come shining in ♪ ♪ Into our life again ♪ ♪ Singin' ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ It's been a long, long time ♪ ♪ And I wanna get through...

  • But mind, you pulled yon yow down clever, though.

  • Campus police Captain Alex Yow says police simply could not guarantee that Coulter's originally planned speech would be safe.

  • Art thou out of thy minds, chasing yows up an' down fell?

  • ♪ ♪ Yow ♪ ♪ There was a ba de ya ♪ ♪ Say, do you remember?

  • N.C. State's athletics director, Debbie Yow, is no stranger to Franklin.

    Blog text (16)
  • YoW!

  • ♪ OOH, YOW

  • When he stubbed his toe, he let out a loud yow of pain.

Synonyms

shout
vsyow
162 1.0

A loud cry to get attention or show strong feeling

is usually a sudden emotional cry for pain, surprise, or distress
cry
vsyow
142 1.0

A loud call that an animal or person makes

is specifically sudden and often signals pain or distress
yell
vsyow
75 1.0

A loud, sudden shout made when you feel strong pain, anger or excitement

is especially sudden and used for pain, surprise, or distress
yelp
vsyow
42 2.8

A short, high sound like a dog makes when hurt or surprised

is generally louder and less high pitched, a sudden strong outburst
holler
vsyow
  • Informal
35 7.5

A very loud shout or cry that shows strong feeling

is a sudden human cry mainly expressing pain or surprise
exclamation
vsyow
12 3.4

A loud cry that shows sudden strong feeling like surprise or pain

is used as a brief loud signal of pain or surprise
aargh
vsyow
  • Informal
8 9.9

A loud cry made when people feel frustrated, hurt, or surprised

is a straightforward sudden cry mainly used for pain or distress
yowl
vsyow
3 7.2

A loud, long cry that sounds like an animal in pain

is typically a quick, sudden cry rather than a long wail
loud holler
vsyow
  • US
1 4.1

A very loud shout to show strong feeling or get attention

is a sudden loud cry often from pain, surprise, or distress
hollo
vsyow
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A very loud cry like an animal's call made by a person

is a quick sharp cry used chiefly for pain or shock

How Loud

scream
596 1.0
yow
  • Informal
1 9.9
to cry
342 1.0
call
301 1.0
murmur
36 4.1

Surface Forms

yow singular
yows plural

Etymology

Yow began as the sound of a sudden cry and is like the words yell and yowl, which makes it easy to remember as a loud 'cry' or 'shout'. So, a yow is a quick, sharp cry you hear when someone feels 'pain', 'surprise', or 'distress'.