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
Their victory in the final game put an exclamation point on the season.

called also exclamation mark

Examples of exclamation point in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Milton Williams with the exclamation point! Matt Schooley, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026 Rye whiskey is the drier and spicier cousin of bourbon with an herbaceous edge, an edge which (as with the Sazerac, La Louisiane and others) is given a few dozen exclamation points with a dash of absinthe. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 10 Jan. 2026 Shortly after the post went up, Grande commented on it with a plethora of exclamation points and emojis to express her apparent excitement. Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Dec. 2025 White chipped in two 3-pointers and a nifty and-one floater to stretch Boston’s lead to double digits, and Gonzalez provided the exclamation point with a powerful two-handed slam over Mamukelashvili. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for exclamation point

Word History

First Known Use

1795, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of exclamation point was in 1795

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exclamation point.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exclamation%20point. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

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

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