Ugh is an exclamation people make when they feel disgusted, annoyed, frustrated, or just generally fed up with something. It's not really a word with a dictionary meaning, but rather a sound that expresses emotion.

You might say ugh when you step in a puddle and your sock gets soaked, or when you realize you forgot your homework at home for the third time this week. Someone might groan ugh after tasting something unexpectedly sour, or upon discovering their little brother drew on their favorite book. It's the sound of being seriously bothered by something.

The feeling behind ugh can range from mild annoyance to total exasperation. A quiet ugh might mean minor frustration, while a loud, drawn-out ughhhhh usually means something has really gotten under your skin. Some people write it with extra letters (ughhhhh) to show just how strongly they feel.

Similar exclamations include ew (for disgust), argh (for anger or frustration), and bleh (for general dissatisfaction). Each captures a slightly different shade of negative feeling, but ugh remains one of the most versatile expressions of displeasure in English.