exclamation

noun

ex·​cla·​ma·​tion ˌek-sklə-ˈmā-shən How to pronounce exclamation (audio)
1
: a sharp or sudden utterance
2
: vehement expression of protest or complaint

Examples of exclamation in a Sentence

Her unexpected announcement caused a few exclamations of surprise. the good news was greeted with a chorus of joyous exclamations
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
There are a few exclamation marks in Dora's history of Nolvadex, four to be precise, and a bit of punctuation wouldn't normally draw attention to itself, but in Dora's case, an exclamation point does, especially coming from a very quiet person. Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2024 The Buffalo Central Terminal, a triumph of Art Deco transportation architecture with a tower rising like an exclamation mark over the low-rise cityscape, has sat vacant since 1979. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 26 Sep. 2024 In oh, Honey — cleverly named for the exclamation of condescending condolence that the mothers constantly deploy with each other — Sarah originally assembled the lunch bunch by reaching out to fellow moms in her online FACE group. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024 Also, federal agencies don’t issue headlines with multiple exclamation marks. Arthur L. Kellermann, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for exclamation 

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of exclamation was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near exclamation

Cite this Entry

“Exclamation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exclamation. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

exclamation

noun
ex·​cla·​ma·​tion ˌeks-klə-ˈmā-shən How to pronounce exclamation (audio)
1
: a sharp or sudden cry of strong feeling
2
: a strong expression of anger or complaint

More from Merriam-Webster on exclamation

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