ew

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "ew" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an interjection that is used to express disgust, dislike, or disapproval. It is often used to convey a strong negative reaction to something. Example: "Ew, I can't believe you ate that expired yogurt!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

The saturation deficit can be expressed as and, because the saturation vapour pressure ew rises with rising temperature, the same relative humidity will correspond to a greater saturation deficit and evaporation at warm temperatures.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Finally, equal numbers are escaping and returning; the vapour is then saturated, and its pressure is known as the saturation vapour pressure, ew.

Encyclopedia Britannica

If the liquid and vapour are warmed, relatively more molecules escape than return, and ew rises.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The three principle cast members from the movie feature on the most recent EW front cover, revealing the love triangle between Zellweger, Collin Firth and newcomer Patrick Dempsey.

Independent

It takes note of not just calories burned and sweat levels (ew!) but also your tosses and turns and absences from bed.

The New Yorker

But the result is a menu of mostly hackneyed Asian-fusion "small plates," with a handful of noodle and rice dishes (the tired standbys pad Thai and pad see ew among them) tacked on as if an afterthought.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Numerals include cardinals, ordinals, collectives (Kazakh bes-ew 'a group of 5'), distributives (Turkish on-ar '10 each'), and sometimes approximatives (Tatar un-lap 'about 10'about

Encyclopedia Britannica

Of course, Tyrynda also offers classics like pad Thai noodles and pad-si-ew, featuring pleasingly firm flat rice noodles, as well as rice dishes like curry fried rice -- all fine on their own, but they can be enhanced, if the diner chooses, with tofu, meat or seafood combinations.

The New York Times

At 11, she was also there on Feb. 28, 2003, watching his No. 33 raised to the rafters and hearing the "Pat-rick Ew-ing" chants echo.

The New York Times - Sports

WHAT WE LIKED Rice-flour crepes; grilled beef; green papaya salad; curry fried rice with beef, chicken and shrimp or seafood; pad Thai or pad-si-ew noodles with vegetable, meat or seafood combinations; hoaw mok tofu; duck honey; duck tamarind; steamed whole red snapper with lemon; lamb massaman; Bangkok jumbo shrimp.

The New York Times

"I'm still in the infancy of learning all that," he told EW.  "It was like, okay, I've got to keep throwing these poses, these spells, these rune-casting things, everything he does physically.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ew" sparingly to emphasize a moment of genuine disgust or dislike. Overuse can diminish its impact.

Common error

Avoid using "ew" in formal writing or professional settings. It is generally considered informal and inappropriate for serious or academic discourse.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of the interjection "ew" is to express a sudden feeling of disgust, distaste, or revulsion. This is consistent with Ludwig AI's analysis that it is an interjection.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The interjection "ew" is used to express disgust or revulsion. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, although its informal nature limits its usage to casual contexts. While several synonyms exist, such as "yuck" and "gross", "ew" provides a distinct expression of distaste. Given its high presence in News & Media sources and its absence in academic or scientific contexts, it is a marker of informal communication.

Alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Yuck

A direct synonym expressing strong distaste.

Gross

Emphasizes the unpleasant or repulsive nature of something.

Ick

Similar to "ew", but can also imply something is sticky or unpleasant.

Disgusting

A more explicit and descriptive expression of revulsion.

Revolting

Suggests a strong sense of offense and aversion.

That's nasty

More descriptive, indicating something unpleasant or offensive.

More alternative expressions

yuck

ge

berk

boo

ick

ahhh!

goe

hi

whew

new

aw

yuk

eww

ooh

gross

ugh

ow

burkes

ahhh

ewg

FAQs

How can I use "ew" in a sentence?

"Ew" is typically used as a standalone interjection expressing disgust. For example, "Ew, that smells terrible!" or "Ew, I don't want to touch that."

What can I say instead of "ew"?

You can use alternatives like "yuck", "gross", or "ick" depending on the context.

Is "ew" appropriate for formal writing?

No, "ew" is generally considered informal and is not appropriate for formal writing or professional communication.

What's the difference between "ew" and "ugh"?

Both "ew" and "ugh" express distaste, but "ew" often indicates disgust at something specific, while "ugh" can express general displeasure or annoyance.