What does "pow" mean?
Initialism of prisoner of war.
Pow
/paʊ/ intj, name, noun, slang
intj, name, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Initialism of prisoner of war.
- Grammar: pow is listed as intj, name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: bam, bang, biff, blammo.
- Useful contrasts: calm, dullness, free person.
- Usage evidence: POW stands for prisoner of war.
How to use "pow"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "pow" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "pow" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "pow" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "pow" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "pow" is acting as intj, name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "bam" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "pow", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Initialism of prisoner of war. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
"After his capture, he was taken to a camp for POWs."
- 2 The sound of a violent impact.
- 3 Alternative form of poll. Ireland, Northern-England, Scotland, alt-of, alternative
"he'd snuffle round the door till the few remaining hairs on the bald pow of Munro would fair rise on end."
- 4 Initialism of proof of work. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
"With PoW, as new, unverified transactions become available or broadcast to the entire blockchain network, each node that maintains a copy of the ledger (also known as a “miner”) verifies a set of those transactions to prevent so called “double spending”."
- 5 a person who surrenders to (or is taken by) the enemy in time of war wordnet
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 Initialism of place of worship. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
- 7 The sound of an explosion.
- 8 Clipping of powder (“powder snow”). abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, slang
- 9 Alternative letter-case form of POW (“prisoner of war”). alt-of, countable
"The communists demand the release of all prisoners detained by Saigon – not only the so-called PoWs. This distinction between “prisoners” and “prisoners of war” is significant since the great majority of the NLF members held by Saigon do not have PoW status. Until 1965 there was no such thing as a PoW; NLF prisoners were considered common criminals."
- 10 Alternative letter-case form of PoW (“proof of work”). alt-of
Intj
- 1 The sound of a violent impact, such as a punch.
"Whap, Biff, Ooooof, Sock, Pow, Zok! Batman is back. Gotham City is again leaving its law and order in the hands of a man who wears plastic underpants over his tights."
- 2 The sound of an explosion or gunshot.
"Pow, they took off."
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Example
"POW stands for prisoner of war."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "pow"?
Common synonyms include: bam, bang, biff, blammo, boom, cageling.
How do you use "pow" in a sentence?
POW stands for prisoner of war.
How do you pronounce "pow"?
Pronounced /paʊ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Onomatopoeic.
Etymology 2
Variant forms.
Etymology 3
Three possible origins: * A variant of the English surname Poe. * Borrowed from Cantonese 包 (baau1) and 鮑 /鲍 (baau1); compare Bao, which derives from the standard Chinese pronunciation of these characters. * Borrowed from Hokkien 傅 (pò͘); compare Fu, which derives from the standard Chinese pronunciation of these characters.