exclaim
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
exclaimsimple
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exclaimssimple
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have exclaimedperfect
-
has exclaimedperfect
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am exclaimingprogressive
-
are exclaimingprogressive
-
is exclaimingprogressive
-
have been exclaimingperfect progressive
-
has been exclaimingperfect progressive
Past
-
exclaimedsimple
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had exclaimedperfect
-
was exclaimingprogressive
-
were exclaimingprogressive
-
had been exclaimingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of exclaim
1560–70; earlier exclame < Latin exclāmāre to cry out. See ex- 1, claim
Explanation
The verb exclaim is from the Latin word exclamare, which means "to cry out." The English meaning is similar, to cry out, but with the added element of a strong emotion such as fear, joy, surprise. In writing, when someone exclaims something, the punctuation mark used to express this vehement outcry is usually the exclamation point: "Stop!" you exclaim when your toddler climbs precariously on a chair stacked with books. "Not in this lifetime!" you cry out when your teenager wants to borrow the new car. You will exclaim "I'm so proud!" when your child graduates college.
Vocabulary lists containing exclaim
Instead of "Said": Words for Upbeat Banter
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The Circuit
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"American Names"
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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:
We even had a member at Valhalla exclaim, “For Emily” as he sank his final putt on that historic 18th hole.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 5, 2026
It saw a raft of stars, including Hugh Jackman and Daniel Radcliffe, soaked over the years and led a sopping-wet Davina McCall to exclaim: "I'm in heaven!"
From BBC ● Mar. 30, 2026
Several people jumped into the comments section on Kardashian’s post to exclaim that they had spotted their family members in the photos.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2024
“Look how, beautiful!” she’d exclaim, in frustration, while all I saw was dirt.
From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2023
Emma returned her friend’s pressure with interest; and was pleased enough to exclaim,
From "Emma" by Jane Austen
"Hey, I know you!" exclaims Paul McCartney, gripping my hand as we walk into his office in central London.
From BBC ● May 27, 2026
"I didn't know it was a comedy at first," exclaims the Irish actor.
From BBC ● May 16, 2026
“The sky is the limit,” Handler exclaims with the boundless enthusiasm that is said to have won over the orchestra and the administration.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 7, 2026
Israeli wellness influencer Hofit Golan exclaims repeatedly in a video that shows a building near her apartment in flames.
From Barron's ● Mar. 1, 2026
After what feels like hours but is actually only a few minutes someone exclaims, “Jane, what are you doing?”
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
“HE DID?” one New York politico exclaimed when I asked him about Trump’s attending the memorial.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
"It's clear who won!" one zookeeper exclaimed excitedly.
From Barron's ● Jun. 6, 2026
During the admissions interview, Ramani recalled, Tessellations’ “founding visionary” Anne Beneventi exclaimed that the girl had “the capacity to develop the highest moral character in all 16 domains!”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026
Even at the premiere, some had trouble speaking because they were so overwhelmed with emotions: "This is the happiest day of my life," exclaimed one.
From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2026
Lady Constance exclaimed, clapping her hands and whirling her skirts in the vaporous air.
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
“You all lying!” a shop owner in Glenmora, population 1,000, recalls exclaiming when she heard agents had surrounded the former police chief’s house there.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026
To prove that point, Sugarman asked Spelling to send her a photo of the current state of her home, then exclaiming, “Oh, it’s not good,” when she saw the image.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 20, 2026
"Sona's been one of the most popular social media posts - with people expressing surprise and huge excitement, exclaiming: 'Like, what, what? How is this possible?'"
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2025
An animated clip of Arthur’s friend D.W. on her bike followed a week later, exclaiming, “We ride at dawn for PBS . . . Who’s riding with us?”
From Salon ● May 18, 2025
All I remember is Amanda C.—who was a year older than me—looking at what I was making and exclaiming: “That’s really, really good, Kathy! That’s so good! I bet that’ll get in the Gallery!”
From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
