exclamation point

noun

1
: a mark ! used especially after an interjection or exclamation to indicate forceful utterance or strong feeling
2
: a distinctive indication of major significance, interest, or contrast
the game put an exclamation point on the season

called also exclamation mark

Examples of exclamation point in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There are forty-three sentences in total, and one exclamation point. Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2023 With its eccentric steel helmet and grandiose lobby, a temple to the power of American industry, the Chrysler Building encapsulated the giddy excess of its time—an Art Deco exclamation point to mark the end of an optimistic decade. Michael Snyder, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2023 As protests intensify, Helen’s narration becomes more manic, acquiring more double exclamation points and question marks. Mark Athitakis, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023 There are a few others where he’s just drawn a quick creature and put an exclamation point or a question mark by it. Françoise Mouly, The New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2023 When searching individual licenses, if there has been discipline, typically an exclamation point pops up on the page above their name directing you to click on the prompt for more information. Christine MacDonald, Detroit Free Press, 4 Aug. 2023 But regardless of the Jeddah Tower’s question mark, the Burj remains a decisive and enormous exclamation point. Rob Verger, Popular Science, 31 May 2023 The 4-year-old colt’s gate-to-wire win was a big exclamation point for the connections. John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2023 Kelce caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes to put the exclamation point on the blowout victory over the Chicago Bears, 41-10. Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 25 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exclamation point.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of exclamation point was in 1824

Dictionary Entries Near exclamation point

Cite this Entry

“Exclamation point.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exclamation%20point. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

exclamation point

noun
: a punctuation mark ! used chiefly after an exclamation to show a forceful way of speaking or a strong feeling

More from Merriam-Webster on exclamation point

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!