exclaim
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
- exclaimer noun
- unexclaiming adjective
Etymology
Origin of exclaim
1560–70; earlier exclame < Latin exclāmāre to cry out. See ex- 1, claim
Explanation
The verb exclaim is from the Latin word exclamare, which means "to cry out." The English meaning is similar, to cry out, but with the added element of a strong emotion such as fear, joy, surprise. In writing, when someone exclaims something, the punctuation mark used to express this vehement outcry is usually the exclamation point: "Stop!" you exclaim when your toddler climbs precariously on a chair stacked with books. "Not in this lifetime!" you cry out when your teenager wants to borrow the new car. You will exclaim "I'm so proud!" when your child graduates college.
Vocabulary lists containing exclaim
Instead of "Said": Words for Upbeat Banter
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The Circuit
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"American Names"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It saw a raft of stars, including Hugh Jackman and Daniel Radcliffe, soaked over the years and led a sopping-wet Davina McCall to exclaim: "I'm in heaven!"
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026
When I exclaim aloud at this huge number, he tamps down my amazement: “No, no. There’s so much left—90% of this music is still unrecovered, unknown.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026
“Look how, beautiful!” she’d exclaim, in frustration, while all I saw was dirt.
From Salon • Jul. 22, 2023
“Wow,” he seems to exclaim as audiences whistle and cheer for his recovery.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2023
“Ah, the Harmattan has brought us good fortune again!” he would exclaim when he returned from harvesting rice.
From "Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina" by Michaela DePrince
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
