exclamation

American  

[ek-skluh-mey-shuhn] / ˌɛk skləˈmeɪ ʃən /

noun

exclamations plural

1. the act of exclaiming; outcry; loud complaint or protest.

   The speech was continually interrupted by rude exclamations.

   Synonyms:

   vociferation, ejaculation, cry

2. an interjection.

3. Rhetoric. ecphonesis.

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exclamation British  

/ ˌɛkskləˈmeɪʃən /

noun

1. an abrupt, emphatic, or excited cry or utterance; interjection; ejaculation

2. the act of exclaiming

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• exclamational
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• exclamations
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

exclamation exclamations

At one point in my notes I wrote, “This is a man who never uses exclamation points.”

From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026

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 28, 2026

Harkins’ goal, into an empty net, was the exclamation point on the win.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 7, 2026

It’s the show’s trademark exclamation, the involuntary squawk of the lucky person who’s just gotten something for nothing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026

The exclamation mark would have to be reinstated.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

The silver mechanical creature then starts thrashing around violently, to gasps and exclamations from spectators at the installation, designed to probe humanity's relationship with increasingly realistic machines.

From Barron's ● Jan. 30, 2026

There will be no exclamations of “Yippee-ki-yay” and you know what because this is still Hallmark, but the network has stepped up its action/adventure offerings.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 18, 2024

As they listened to celebratory speeches, the audience erupted into joyful exclamations: "Mercy!"

From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2024

For listeners, it was Rashid's ability to stir profound exclamations - of love, devotion and reverence - that set him apart.

From BBC ● Jan. 12, 2024

And indeed, Miss Mortimer was trying desperately to dismiss everyone, with handshakes all around and many exclamations of “Good night now, sleep well, sweet dreams!”

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood