Stoichiometric　tungsten　oxide　(WO3)　and　tungsten　bronzes　have　received　much　attention　due　to　the　energy-related　functional　performances.　In　addition,　as　a　transition　metal　oxide,　substoichiometric　tungsten　oxides　have　manifested　their　unique　properties　and　exceptional　potential　to　lots　of　applications;　however,　no　other　studies　have　concentrated　on　the　oxygen-deficient　tungsten　oxides　till　now.　Herein,　this　article　presents　the　origin　of　structure　and　synthesis　of　W18O49　nanomaterials　chiefly,　and　then　the　general　introduction　of　different　applications,　including　electrochemistry,　photocatalysis,　near-infrared　shielding　and　phototherapy　and　sensing.　©　2019,　Springer　Science+Business　Media,　LLC,　part　of　Springer　Nature.