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intj Common

whoa

woh
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Whoa (intj) means a command to stop or slow down, especially given to a horse. Example: “Whoa, wait for me," she shouted, as the cart began to roll forward.”

intj
1
A command to stop or slow down, especially given to a horse.
""Whoa, wait for me," she shouted, as the cart began to roll forward."
"I can see Mickie getting hot, I'm about to grab his arm, hold him back, say, Whoa, whoa, Mick, not here, it ain't worth it what happened inside just now." — Ron Liebman, Death by Rodrigo (2007)
"Whoa! Slow down, you're going too fast."
2
An exclamation of surprise or amazement.
"Whoa, look at the size of that cake!"
""Whoa, you finished the whole puzzle in one evening?" he said."
"Whoa, I didn't expect that twist ending at all."
"Whoa. Wait a minute, Doc. Are you trying to tell me that my mother has got the hots for me?" — Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale (1985)

How to use whoa

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn exclamation for "stop!" or for sudden surprise.

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Word forms

Third person singular
whoas
Past tense
whoaed
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

"_____, wait for me," she shouted, as the cart began to roll forward.

Etymology

Evolved through a chain of older spoken forms — wo, woa — ultimately tracing back to the same root as the word who, used as a call to halt an animal.

hold on hold up yikes hey

Antonyms

giddyup giddap

Related words

Rhymes for whoa

See all rhymes for whoa →

Frequently asked questions

What does “whoa” mean?
The word “whoa” means a command to stop or slow down, especially given to a horse. In plain terms, an exclamation for "stop!" or for sudden surprise.
How do you pronounce “whoa”?
“Whoa” is pronounced woh (/woʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “whoa” in a sentence?
Here is “whoa” used in a sentence: “Whoa! Slow down, you're going too fast.”
What is the opposite of “whoa”?
The opposite of “whoa” — its antonyms — are giddyup and giddap.
What part of speech is “whoa”?
“Whoa” is an intj.
Is “whoa” a common word?
“Whoa” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “whoa” have?
“Whoa” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a command to stop or slow down, especially given to a horse.
What is the difference between whoa and woah?
Whoa is the standard spelling, while woah is an informal variant that became common in casual writing and text messages. Both are pronounced the same and used the same way, but whoa is the form found in dictionaries.
When do people say whoa?
People say whoa either to tell someone or something, such as a horse, to stop or slow down, or as an exclamation of surprise or amazement, such as reacting to unexpected news. The meaning depends entirely on context and tone.
Is whoa a formal word?
No, whoa is an informal interjection used in speech and casual writing rather than in formal or professional communication.

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