whoa

[hwoh, woh] /ʰwoʊ, woʊ/
interjection
1.
stop! (used especially to horses).
Origin
1615-25; dialectal variant of ho2
Examples from the web for whoa
  • whoa, it's cool that the author is actually speaking in the comments.
  • whoa we're talking about a patient centered medical home.
British Dictionary definitions for whoa

whoa

/wəʊ/
interjection
1.
a command used esp to horses to stop or slow down
Word Origin
C19: variant of ho1
Word Origin and History for whoa

1620s, a cry to call attention from a distance, a variant of who. As a command to stop a horse, it is attested from 1843, a variant of ho. As an expression of delight or surprise (1980s) it has gradually superseded wow, which was very popular 1960s.

Slang definitions & phrases for whoa

whoa

interjection
  1. An exclamation of surprise and delight; wow •This interjection appears to be replacing the very popular wow of the 1960s: Unsolicited confession: woah! (1980s+)
  2. (also whoa there or whoa Nelly) An exhortation to wait, go slow, not be hasty: Whoa, Nelly. Two aliens are heading this way (1940s+)

[fr whoa! ''Stop, horse!'' attested fr the 1840s]