Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

ouch

1 American  
[auch] / aʊtʃ /

interjection

  1. (used as an exclamation expressing sudden pain or dismay.)


ouch 2 American  
[auch] / aʊtʃ /

noun

  1. a clasp, buckle, or brooch, especially one worn for ornament.

  2. the setting of a precious stone.


verb (used with object)

  1. to adorn with or as if with ouches.

ouch 1 British  
/ aʊtʃ /

noun

  1. a brooch or clasp set with gems

  2. the setting of a gem

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

ouch 2 British  
/ aʊtʃ /

interjection

  1. an exclamation of sharp sudden pain

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of ouch1

1830–40, < German autsch

Origin of ouch2

1325–75; Middle English ouche (noun), for nouche (the phrase a nouche taken as an ouche; cf. apron) < Old French nosche ≪ Germanic


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

As interviewer Iain Dale responded "ouch", Polanski said: "I really like Adrian, so that does hurt."

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2025

"We are supposed to die without even saying ouch, without expressing pain," said Abudaqa of her arrest and speaking ban on Tuesday before the court decision came.

From Reuters ● Nov. 8, 2023

“Ouch, ouch, ouch. It hurts,” McLaughlin said, according to Bennett.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 6, 2023

“If one of them has been thinking something, the others intuitively know it. I tease them: ‘If I stick one of you with a pin, all three of you would say ouch.’

From Washington Times ● Jun. 19, 2022

“That hurts — get off— ouch —” “Harry Potter must wake up, sir!”

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training