exclaim
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have exclaimedperfect
-
has exclaimedperfect 3rd person singular
-
is exclaimingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
have been exclaimingperfect progressive
-
has been exclaimingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
are exclaimingprogressive
-
am exclaimingprogressive 1st person singular
-
exclaimssingular 3rd person
-
exclaimingparticiple
Past
-
had exclaimedperfect
-
was exclaimingprogressive singular
-
had been exclaimingperfect progressive
-
were exclaimingprogressive plural
-
exclaimedparticiple
-
exclaimedsimple
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Circuit
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"American Names"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
