exclamation

American  

[ek-skluh-mey-shuhn] / ˌɛk skləˈmeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of exclaiming; outcry; loud complaint or protest.

   The speech was continually interrupted by rude exclamations.

   Synonyms:

   vociferation, ejaculation, cry

2. an interjection.

3. Rhetoric. ecphonesis.

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exclamation British  

/ ˌɛkskləˈmeɪʃən /

noun

1. an abrupt, emphatic, or excited cry or utterance; interjection; ejaculation

2. the act of exclaiming

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Other Word Forms

• exclamational adjective

Etymology

Origin of exclamation

1350–1400; Middle English exclamacio ( u ) n < Latin exclāmātiōn- (stem of exclāmātiō ) a calling out, equivalent to exclāmāt ( us ) (past participle of exclāmāre; exclaim ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

The 35-page ruling uses a large number of exclamation points, arguing that Congress must give approval in order for the project to resume.

From BBC

She heard the thump, thump, thump of the ball and then an exclamation when it hit the rim, bounced.

From Literature

Hüller’s voice begins small before unfurling into a mighty, sonorant exclamation until it’s brought back down again, like a woman who’s reluctant to let herself have too much faith in the impossible.

From Salon

Sawgrass put an exclamation mark on that before sell out crowds.

From BBC

“The Bride!” is a monster of its own making that isn’t trying to earn its exclamation point, but declaring it.

From Salon