Whew is an exclamation people say when they feel relief after something stressful or difficult passes. You might say whew after finishing a challenging test, narrowly avoiding a collision on your bike, or discovering that the strange noise in your house was just the cat knocking over a lamp.

The word captures that specific feeling when tension drains away: your shoulders drop, you exhale deeply, and you realize everything's okay. It's the sound of relief itself. A student who studied hard might say “Whew, I'm glad that presentation is over!” A parent whose lost child is found might simply whisper “whew” while giving them a hug.

People also say whew when reacting to heat or exhaustion, like after running laps in gym class on a hot day. In this case, it's less about relief and more about acknowledging that you're worn out or overheated.

The word is usually written with an exclamation point (whew!) because it's not a quiet, calm word. It can burst out of you naturally when that wave of relief hits.