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noun

exclamation

ehksk-luh-MAYSHN

Exclamation (noun) means a sudden loud cry, often expressing surprise, pain, or another strong emotion. Example: “An exclamation of pain escaped him as he stubbed his toe.”

noun
1
A sudden loud cry, often expressing surprise, pain, or another strong emotion.
"An exclamation of pain escaped him as he stubbed his toe."
2
The punctuation mark (!) used to show emphasis or strong feeling; also called an exclamation mark or point.
"She ended the text with three exclamation marks to show how thrilled she was."

How to use exclamation

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a sudden outburst of emotion in speech, or the ! punctuation mark itself.

UK vs US

British English usually calls "!" an "exclamation mark"; American English often says "exclamation point."

Common pairings
exclamation mark exclamation point point of exclamation

Word forms

exclamations plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

An _____ of pain escaped him as he stubbed his toe.

Etymology

From Latin exclamatio, from exclamare, "to cry out."

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for exclamation

See all rhymes for exclamation →

Frequently asked questions

What does “exclamation” mean?

The word “exclamation” means a sudden loud cry, often expressing surprise, pain, or another strong emotion. In plain terms, either a sudden outburst of emotion in speech, or the ! punctuation mark itself.

How do you pronounce “exclamation”?

“Exclamation” is pronounced ehksk-luh-MAYSHN (/ˌɛkskləˈmeɪʃn̩/ in IPA).

How do you use “exclamation” in a sentence?

Here is “exclamation” used in a sentence: “An exclamation of pain escaped him as he stubbed his toe.”

What part of speech is “exclamation”?

“Exclamation” is a noun.

Where does the word “exclamation” come from?

The word “exclamation” comes from Latin. From Latin exclamatio, from exclamare, "to cry out.".

How many meanings does “exclamation” have?

“Exclamation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sudden loud cry, often expressing surprise, pain, or another strong emotion.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial