wonder

[ wuhn-der ]

verb (used without object)

1. to think or speculate curiously:

   to wonder about the origin of the solar system.

   Synonyms: question, ponder, meditate, conjecture

2. to be filled with admiration, amazement, or awe; marvel (often followed by at ):

   He wondered at her composure in such a crisis.

3. to doubt:

   I wonder if she'll really get here.

verb (used with object)

1. to speculate curiously or be curious about; be curious to know:

   to wonder what happened.

2. to feel wonder at:

   I wonder that you went.

   Synonyms: marvel

noun

1. something strange and surprising; a cause of surprise, astonishment, or admiration:

   That building is a wonder. It is a wonder he declined such an offer.

2. the emotion excited by what is strange and surprising; a feeling of surprised or puzzled interest, sometimes tinged with admiration:

   He felt wonder at seeing the Grand Canyon.

   Synonyms: awe, bewilderment, amazement, astonishment, surprise

3. miraculous deed or event; remarkable phenomenon.

Wonder

¹

/ ˈwʌndə /

noun

1. WonderStevie1950MUSMUSIC: popular singerMUSIC: songwriterMUSIC: multi-instrumentalist Stevie. real name Steveland Judkins Morris. born 1950, US Motown singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. His recordings include Up-Tight (1966), "Superstition" (1972), Innervisions (1973), Songs in the Key of Life (1976), and "I Just Called to Say I Love You" (1985)

wonder

²

/ ˈwʌndə /

noun

1. the feeling excited by something strange; a mixture of surprise, curiosity, and sometimes awe
2. something that causes such a feeling, such as a miracle
3. See Seven Wonders of the World
4. modifier exciting wonder by virtue of spectacular results achieved, feats performed, etc

   a wonder horse

   a wonder drug

5. do wonders or work wonders
   to achieve spectacularly fine results
6. for a wonder
   surprisingly or amazingly
7. nine days' wonder
   a subject that arouses general surprise or public interest for a short time
8. no wonder
   sentence connector (I am) not surprised at all (that)

   no wonder he couldn't come

9. small wonder
   sentence connector (I am) hardly surprised (that)

   small wonder he couldn't make it tonight

verb

1. whenintr, often foll by about to indulge in speculative inquiry, often accompanied by an element of doubt (concerning something)

   I wonder what happened

   I wondered about what she said

2. whenintr, often foll by at to be amazed (at something)

   I wonder at your impudence

Derived Forms

• ˈwonderer, noun
• ˈwonderless, adjective

Other Words From

• wonder·er noun
• wonder·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wonder¹

First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English wundor; cognate with Dutch wonder, German Wunder, Old Norse undr; (verb) Middle English wonderen, Old English wundrian, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wonder¹

Old English wundor; related to Old Saxon wundar, Old Norse undr, German Wunder

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. for a wonder, as the reverse of what might be expected; surprisingly:

   For a wonder, they worked hard all day.

More idioms and phrases containing wonder

In addition to the idiom beginning with wonder , also see for a wonder ; no wonder ; work wonders .

Example Sentences

"The Biden Administration has filled hundreds of pages of briefs in federal court claiming that Special Counsels do not require Senate confirmation. In case anyone was wondering," he wrote.

From Salon

He wondered: How am I going to be leading man?

From Salon

As more evidence of microorganisms emerged, experts began to wonder if humans would soon learn life exists somewhere in the universe besides Earth.

From Salon

Even before those stories were published, I wondered what would become of the girls after we left.

From New York Times

In a desperate search for answers, he wondered out loud whether he could be the “motive” for his father’s crimes.

From BBC

Related Words

• admire
• marvel
• stare