exclamation
Americannoun
-
the act of exclaiming; outcry; loud complaint or protest.
The speech was continually interrupted by rude exclamations.
- Synonyms:
- vociferation, ejaculation, cry
-
an interjection.
-
Rhetoric. ecphonesis.
noun
-
an abrupt, emphatic, or excited cry or utterance; interjection; ejaculation
-
the act of exclaiming
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of exclamation
1350–1400; Middle English exclamacio ( u ) n < Latin exclāmātiōn- (stem of exclāmātiō ) a calling out, equivalent to exclāmāt ( us ) (past participle of exclāmāre; see exclaim) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
If you need a word to call other "words" like "Yay!" or "Rats!", then exclamation is your word. An exclamation is usually followed by an exclamation point. Go Figure. The shocked cry you made when your friends jumped out and yelled, "Surprise!" at your birthday party? You could call both your yelp and their "Surprise!" exclamations. The Latin word exclamare, or "cry out loud," is at the root of the noun exclamation. An exclamation doesn't need to be a literal "cry," though — it can be a surprised "Wow!" or an angry "No!" Anything you say with abrupt excitement, pain, fear, or anger is an exclamation.
Vocabulary lists containing exclamation
Sentences - Introductory
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!
Catching the Light, Part 1
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!
Part 3 Literary Terms (Unit 1)
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!
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.
The rally puts an exclamation point on the stock’s turnaround this month, as the narrative around how AI would affect many software stocks seems to have reversed to positive from negative.
From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026
Harkins’ goal, into an empty net, was the exclamation point on the win.
From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026
“I’ll use aggressively casual language, like, ‘hey yo, for real,’ or drop a bunch of exclamation points,” said Harvard, a 32-year-old copywriter in Brooklyn, regarding her posts and essays.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026
The 35-page ruling uses a large number of exclamation points, arguing that Congress must give approval in order for the project to resume.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
But right after you got into space, she texted me with lots of exclamation points and hearts.
From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga
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.
