exclaim
Americanverb (used without object)
-
exclaims,
present (3rd person singular)
-
exclaimed,
past participle, past
-
exclaiming
present participle
verb (used with object)
-
exclaims,
present (3rd person singular)
-
exclaimed,
past participle, past
-
exclaiming
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
exclaimsimple
-
exclaimssimple
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have exclaimedperfect
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has exclaimedperfect
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am exclaimingprogressive
-
are exclaimingprogressive
-
is exclaimingprogressive
-
have been exclaimingperfect progressive
-
has been exclaimingperfect progressive
Past
-
exclaimedsimple
-
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:
She appeared to follow Shadow around later that day, prompting the nonprofit to exclaim, “Shadow has a shadow!”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
While Steve’s dad leafed through documents and letters—stopping to exclaim or lament a bit—and Steve went through still more photos, I dug through his late mom’s sewing supplies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025
Even President Donald Trump attended events in the 90s, says Evans, who once saw him sit on a golden throne at Combs's 30th birthday and exclaim: "I'm the real King of New York!"
From BBC ● Feb. 5, 2025
“Look how, beautiful!” she’d exclaim, in frustration, while all I saw was dirt.
From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2023
Now Ching was a fearful and timid man and however bad the times were he did not dare as Wang Lung did to exclaim against Heaven.
From "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck
“It’s my very own Stanford Prison Experiment!” she exclaims, in a typically baffling attempt at lighthearted dialogue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
"I made many friends!" she exclaims, adding that a plan to get brunch together is already in the works.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
Napoleon exclaims during an extended instance of flatulence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026
“Best lesbian book ever!” exclaims Alexis of Chloe Michelle Howarth’s 2023 work.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 2, 2026
Steph exclaims, and holds up her hand to the camera.
From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila
“HE DID?” one New York politico exclaimed when I asked him about Trump’s attending the memorial.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
Lee, 31, exclaimed, and the pair, mere moments after meeting, snapped a selfie as Gonzalez, 28, presented his Korean bulgogi beef quesadilla to the camera with a grin.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
"It's clear who won!" one zookeeper exclaimed excitedly.
From Barron's ● Jun. 6, 2026
Scimemi exclaimed as she leapt forward, earning a big laugh from a classroom full of colleagues.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026
Nim exclaimed after the fifth piece of coconut, but Fred went on eating.
From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr
“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
An animated clip of Arthur’s sister 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
The Grammy-winning singer announced new shows Monday, via a short clip on Instagram that featured his animated concho frog exclaiming, “at last!” before shooting off his paper plane into the ether.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2025
Mr. Van Hooten, his violin case slung over his shoulder, blew into the brownstone right before dinner began, exclaiming over the severe weather.
From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser
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.
