exclamation point

noun

1. the sign (!) used in writing after an exclamation.
2. this mark sometimes used in writing two or more times in succession to indicate intensity of emotion, loudness, etc.:

   Long live the Queen!!

3. this mark sometimes used without accompanying words in writing direct discourse to indicate a speaker's dumbfounded astonishment:

   “His wife just gave birth to quintuplets.”(!)

exclamation point

1. A punctuation mark (!) used after an abrupt and emphatic statement or after a command: “‘Help!’ he cried, as his boat floated toward the edge of Niagara Falls .”

Word History and Origins

Origin of exclamation point¹

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

Emphasis on that exclamation point, which is in the central JBL logo, as well as seen pumping on the bass radiators.

From Popular-Science

Claiming a 20-hour battery life, as well as a Powerbank feature that lets you charge another device over USB, the Charge 5 has an exclamation point embossed on its bass radiators and the sound to justify that emphatic punctuation.

From Popular-Science

So I started off with the Stevie Wonder drum solo, and I knew that Nina Simone was the perfect exclamation point.

From Time

At the ends of the rubberized cylinder are two passive bass radiators, which have traded the JBL logo for more exclamation points.

From Popular-Science

That’s the best word to describe Jokic, who added an exclamation point to his sensational start with a 47-point outburst Sunday to snap the Utah Jazz’s 11-game winning streak.

From Washington Post

But I am very good at turning a question mark into an exclamation point.

From The Daily Beast

(the exclamation point is part of the title), and may be best known for singing and dancing in a handful of episodes of Glee.

From The Daily Beast

All this in front of a huge neon exclamation point and the entire scene is depicted in a painting hanging at the motel room.

From The Daily Beast

A majority on the left will reply with a firm no—no, exclamation point—and that is part of the problem.

From The Daily Beast

He even went so far as to punctuate the scoop with an exclamation point!

From The Daily Beast

My four days in Philadelphia have just been one exclamation point after another!

From Project Gutenberg

The emphatic ker-blim of a rifle a hundred yards off furnished a vocal exclamation point to further accent the comment.

From Project Gutenberg

Barlow's big fist crashed down on his desk in a tremendous exclamation point.

From Project Gutenberg

I know I've not honored you with so much as an exclamation point since my very first out-of-doors entry.

From Project Gutenberg

And Ermine had to move away quickly to avoid another exclamation point, but such little appreciation warmed him.

From Project Gutenberg