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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- exclamations
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."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for exclamation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
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.
