Oof

Pronunciation: /uːf/

Definitions of Oof

interjection used to express discomfort, surprise, or dismay

Example Sentences

A1 Oof, that was a big bump!

A2 Oof, I forgot my lunch at home.

B1 Oof, I can't believe I missed the bus.

B2 Oof, that test was harder than I expected.

C1 Oof, the stock market took a big hit today.

C2 Oof, the company's profits are down this quarter.

Examples of Oof in a Sentence

formal The athlete let out an 'oof' as he landed awkwardly after the high jump.

informal Oof, that was a close call!

slang I accidentally hit my toe on the table - oof!

figurative After hearing the news, she felt an emotional 'oof' in her chest.

Grammatical Forms of Oof

• past tense: Oofed
• plural: Oofs
• comparative: Oofer
• superlative: Oofest
• present tense: Oofs
• future tense: will Oof
• perfect tense: have Oofed
• continuous tense: is Oofing
• singular: Oof
• positive degree: Oof
• infinitive: to Oof
• gerund: Oofing
• participle: Oofed

Origin and Evolution of Oof

First Known Use: 1917 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The word 'Oof' is believed to have originated as an onomatopoeic expression representing a sound made when someone is physically impacted or hurt.

Evolution of the word: Over time, 'Oof' has evolved to also convey a sense of exhaustion, surprise, or dismay, in addition to its original physical impact connotation.