exclamation

English

WOTD – 7 September 2026

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *h₁éǵʰ

Proto-Indo-European *-s

Proto-Indo-European *h₁éǵʰs

Proto-Italic *eks

Latin ex

Latin ex-

Proto-Indo-European *kelh₁-

Proto-Indo-European *-m-

Proto-Indo-European *kl̥h₁m-

Proto-Italic *klām-der.

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂

Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂

Proto-Indo-European *-yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu.

Proto-Italic *-ājō

Proto-Italic *-āō

Latin -ō

Latin clāmō

Latin exclāmō

Proto-Indo-European *-tis

Proto-Indo-European *-Hō

Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō

Proto-Italic *-tiō

Latin -tiō

Latin exclāmātiōlbor.

Middle French exclamationbor.

Middle English exclamacioun

English exclamation

From Late Middle English exclamacion, exclamacioun (“calling or crying out; complaint, lament”),^[1] borrowed from Middle French exclamation (modern French exclamation), from Latin exclāmātiō (“exclamation”), from exclāmō (“to call out, cry; to exclaim, shout”)^[2] + -tiō (suffix forming action nouns denoting processes, actions, or results of actions). Exclāmō is derived from ex- (prefix meaning ‘away; out’) + clāmō (“to call out, cry; to exclaim, shout”) (probably ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kelh₁- (“to call out to”)).

Pronunciation

(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌɛkskləˈmeɪʃn̩/
(General American) IPA^(key): /ˌɛkskləˈmeɪʃən/
Audio (General American): (file)
(file)
Rhymes: -eɪʃən
Hyphenation: ex‧clam‧a‧tion

Noun

exclamation (countable and uncountable, plural exclamations)

(uncountable) The act of loudly calling or crying out, for example, as in anger, grief or pain, joy, surprise, etc.; (countable) an instance of this.
- a. 1513 (date written), [Robert] Fabyan, chapter CCVII, in Fabyans Cronycle Newly Prynted⸝ wyth the Cronycle, Actes, and Dedes Done in the Tyme of the Reygne of the Moste Excellent Prynce Kynge Henry the VII. Father vnto Our Most Drad Souerayne Lord Kynge Henry the .VIII. […], volume I, London: […] Wyllyam Rastell, published 10 January 1534 (Gregorian calendar; indicated as 31 December 1533), →OCLC, 6th parte, folio cxxxi, recto, column 1:
  And when he [William the Conqueror] was borne of his moders [Herleva's] wombe⸝ he fyll to the groũde [grounde], and cloſed his handes wyth powder of the flore or pauement. Therfore the mydwyfe made an exclamacyon, and ſayd this chyld ſhall be a kynge.
- 1533 (date written), Thomas More, “The Answer to the First Part of the Poysoned Booke whych a Nameles Heretike hath Named the Supper of the Lord. […]. Chapter IIII.”, in Wyllyam Rastell [i.e., William Rastell], editor, The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London: […] Iohn Cawod, Iohn Waly, and Richarde Tottell, published 30 April 1557, →OCLC, book IV, page 1106, column 1:
  [He] prooueth himſelf willinglye and wittingly in all his high tragycall exclamacion againſte hys owne conſcience, and his owne verye knowledge, to belye me: […]
- 1569, Richard Grafton, “Henrie the Seconde”, in A Chronicle at Large and Meere History of the Affayres of Englande […], volume II, London: […] Henry Denham, […], for Richarde Tottle and Humffrey Toye, →OCLC, page 72:
  And ſo approching neerer vnto him ſayde, he had ſpoken ynough againſt his awne head: wherevpon followed great exclamation and many threatning words.
- c. 1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedy of King Richard the Third. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Sims [and Peter Short] for Andrew Wise, […], published 1597, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv], signatures [I4], verso – K, recto:
  Either be patient, and intreat me faire, / Or vvith the clamorus report of vvar: / Thus vvill I drovvne your exclamations.
- 1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, page 106:
  [T]he Horror of dying in ſuch a miſerable Condition rais'd Vapours into my Head vvith the meer Apprehenſions; and in theſe Hurries of my Soul, I knovv not vvhat my Tongue might expreſs: but it vvas rather Exclamation, ſuch as, Lord! vvhat a miſerable Creature am I?
- 1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter II, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume I, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 11:
  "What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation?" cried he [Mr. Bennet]. "Do you consider the forms of introduction, and the stress that is laid on them, as nonsense? I cannot quite agree with you there. What say you, Mary? For you are a young lady of deep reflection, I know, and read great books and make extracts."
- 1828 May 15, [Walter Scott], chapter VII, in Chronicles of the Canongate. Second Series. […] (The Fair Maid of Perth), volume II, Edinburgh: […] [Ballantyne and Co.] for Cadell and Co.; London: Simpkin and Marshall, →OCLC, page 202:
  At last, like Portuguese Catholics when exhausted with entreating their saints, the crowd without had recourse to vituperative exclamations.
- 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter VII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 45:
  "And now, my dearest Lucy, collect yourself, for all depends upon our own resources." Such were the whispered exclamations with which Francesca cheered her trembling companion, whose courage was not heightened by the darkness and stillness around them as they proceeded on their hazardous enterprise.
- 1851 June – 1852 April, Harriet Beecher Stowe, “Select Incident of Lawful Trade”, in Uncle Tom’s Cabin; or, Life among the Lowly, volume I, Boston, Mass.: John P[unchard] Jewett & Company; Cleveland, Oh.: Jewett, Proctor & Worthington, published 20 March 1852, →OCLC, page 184:
  The woman's passionate exclamations collected a crowd around her, and the trader briefly explained to them the cause of the agitation.
- 1873, William Black, “‘Lochaber No More’”, in A Princess of Thule. […], New York, N.Y.; London: Harper & Brothers, →OCLC, page 17:
  Mackenzie turned from him with a petulant exclamation, and went along and down the hill rapidly, as he could hear voices in the darkness.
(uncountable) The act of loudly complaining or protesting; (countable) an instance of this; a complaint, an outcry, a protest.
- a. 1513 (date written), [Robert] Fabyan, chapter CLXXXII, in Fabyans Cronycle Newly Prynted⸝ wyth the Cronycle, Actes, and Dedes Done in the Tyme of the Reygne of the Moste Excellent Prynce Kynge Henry the VII. Father vnto Our Most Drad Souerayne Lord Kynge Henry the .VIII. […], volume I, London: […] Wyllyam Rastell, published 10 January 1534 (Gregorian calendar; indicated as 31 December 1533), →OCLC, 6th parte, folio cvii, recto, column 2:
  Charlys herynge this exclamacyon of hys ſubgettes, and cõſyderyng hys lacke of power to with ſtande that malyce of hys enemyes, was right penſyfe and heuy in hys herte⸝ […]
  Charles hearing this exclamation of his subjects, and considering his lack of power to withstand that malice of his enemies, was right pensive and heavy in his heart, […]
- 1531 March 20 (date written; Gregorian calendar), [Antonio de Guevara], “Of Dyuers Other Thinges that the Vilayne Sayd before the Senate”, in John Bourcher knyghte Lord Barners [i.e., John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners], transl., The Golden Boke of Marcus Aurelius Emperour and Eloquent Oratour, London: […] Thomæ Bertheleti […], published 1535, →OCLC, folio 55, recto:
  And ſo the myſerable perſone that came to complayn, retourneth complaynyng on you all, curſinge his cruell deſtenies, and maketh exclamatiõ [exclamation] vppon the rightwiſe goddis.
- 1597, Richard Hooker, “To the Most Reuerend Father in God My Verie Good Lord, the Lord Archbishop of Canterburie His Grace, Primate and Metropolitane of All England”, in J[ohn] S[penser], editor, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, book V:
  [W]hen the eares of the people are thus continually beaten vvith exclamations againſt abuſes in the Church, theſe tunes come alvvaies moſt acceptable to them vvhoſe odious and corrupt dealings in ſecular affaires both paſſe by that meane the more couertly, & vvhatſoeuer happen doe alſo the leaſt feele that ſcourge of vulgar imputation vvhich notvvithſtanding they moſt deſerue.
- 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 208, column 1:
  Theſe exactions / […] they are / Moſt pertinent to th'hearing, and to beare 'em, / The Backe is Sacrifice to th'load; They ſay / They are deuis'd by you, er [ere] elſe you ſuffer / Too hard an exclamation.
- 1722 March, H[enry] F[oe] [pseudonym; Daniel Defoe], A Journal of the Plague Year: […], London: […] E[lizabeth] Nutt […]; J. Roberts […]; A. Dodd […]; and J. Graves […], →OCLC, page 176:
  [T]he poor People vvho ran a-broad in their Extremities, vvere often ill-uſed and driven back again into the Tovvn; and this cauſed infinite Exclamations and Out-cries againſt the Country Tovvns, and made the Clamour very popular.
- 1777, J[oseph] Priestley, “Section III. Of the Argument for Necessity from the Divine Prescience.”, in The Doctrine of Philosophical Necessity Illustrated, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], →OCLC, page 24:
  [Y]et if a man expreſs the leaſt indignation at ſuch nevv and unheard-of arrogance, and in an argument of ſuch high importance as this, vvhat exclamation and abuſe muſt he not expect?
- 1821 January 8, [Walter Scott], chapter XI, in Kenilworth; a Romance. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; and John Ballantyne, […]; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, pages 284–285:
  At this last exchange of sarcasm, Dame Crank set up her throat, and began a horrible exclamation against Jack Hostler, under cover of which Tressilian and his attendant escaped into the house.
(grammar, countable) Synonym of interjection (“a phrase or word with no particular grammatical relation to a sentence but which serves to express emotion or as a filled pause”).
- 1857 April 1, [Herbert Spencer], “Art. V.—Progress: Its Law and Cause [book review].”, in The Westminster and Foreign Quarterly Review, volume XI, number II (New Series; volume LXVII, number CXXXII, overall), London: Savill and Edwards, […], →OCLC, page 456:
  The lowest form of language is the exclamation, by which an entire idea is vaguely conveyed through a single sound; as among the lower animals. That human language ever consisted solely of exclamations, as so was strictly homogeneous in respect of its parts of speech, we have no evidence. But that language can be traced down to a form in which nouns and verbs are its only elements, is an established fact.
(orthography, countable, archaic) Synonym of exclamation mark (“the punctuation mark "!", generally used to denote excitement, shock, or surprise”).
- 1876, [John Russell,] Viscount Amberley, “Holy Books, or Bibles”, in An Analysis of Religious Belief, volume II, London: Trübner & Co., […], →OCLC, page 12:
  "In this year," he [James Legge] remarks, "and in the 24th year, we have the record of eclipses in successive months. According to modern chronologists such a thing could not be; but perhaps it did occur in ancient times!" Dr Legge has italicised the concluding words, and put an exclamation after them, as if they embodied a surprising absurdity.
- 1894 February, W[illiam] D[ean] Howells, “A Masterpiece of Diplomacy. Farce.”, in Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, volume LXXXVIII, number DXXV, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 372:
  [Mrs. Roberts: "]Did you leave word for Dr. Williams to hurry?" / Roberts: "Yes, I left a very urgent message on his slate. I—" / Mrs. Roberts: "I hope you underlined it, Edward! You never will underline things, even the most important!" / Roberts: "Well, I underlined this, my dear." / Mrs. Roberts: "How many times? Three times?" / […] / Roberts: "Yes, I think so—" / Mrs. Roberts: "And did you put an exclamation after it? Three?" / Roberts: "I don't know—" / Mrs. Roberts: "Oh, how could you be so careless, Edward? If you didn't put three exclamations, you might as well not have gone. He'll just take his time to do it, and Robby may be in a collapse by the time he gets here. He's furious now. Listen!"
- 1894 June, William H. Hills, “Rules for Copying Manuscripts on the Typewriter”, in The Writer: A Monthly Magazine to Interest and Help All Literary Workers, volume VII, number 6, Boston, Mass.: Writer Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 83, column 1:
  If, in place of the period in the sentence quoted, there had been a semi-colon, an interrogation point, or an exclamation point after "cry-baby," the double-quote should have been struck before the semi-colon, interrogation, or exclamation instead of after it.
- 1901, Theodore Low De Vinne, “Punctuation”, in The Practice of Typography: Correct Composition: A Treatise on Spelling Abbreviations, the Compounding and Division of Words, the Proper Use of Figures and Numerals, Italic and Capital Letters, Notes, etc. […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC, pages 281 and 283:
  [page 281] The exclamation marks a word or phrase intended to express great surprise or emotion. […] Short ejaculations, whether of enthusiasm, as Bravo! Hurrah! Good! or of contempt, as Get out! Away! or of sorrow, as Alas! O! always call for the exclamation. […] [page 283] It is rated an error to put an exclamation after every vocative O. […] The exclamation-point, properly used, gives force and point to language; improperly and profusely used, it degrades intended pathos and makes bombast.
(rhetoric) Synonym of ecphonesis (”(uncountable) the making of an emotional utterance; (countable) an instance of this; an exclamatory phrase”); also, synonym of epiphonema (“(countable) an exclamatory phrase or reflection used to round off or summarize an argument or discourse”).
- 1589, attributed to George Puttenham, “Of Figures Sententious, otherwise Called Rhetoricall”, in The Arte of English Poesie. […], London: […] Richard Field, […], →OCLC, 3rd booke (Of Ornament), page 177:
  The figure of exclamation, I call him [the outcrie] becauſe it vtters our minde by all ſuch vvords as do ſhevv any extreme paſſion, vvhether it be by vvay of exclamation or crying out, admiration or vvondering, imprecation or curſing, obteſtation or taking God and the vvorld to vvitnes, or any ſuch like as declare an impotent affection, […]
  The marginal note states: “Ecphoniſis, or the Outcry.”
(obsolete, uncountable) Followed by of: the act of formally declaring; (countable) an instance of this; a declaration, a proclamation, a pronouncement.
- 1600 or 1601 (date written), I. M. [i.e., John Marston], Antonios Reuenge. The Second Part. […], London: […] [Richard Bradock] for Thomas Fisher, and are to be soulde [by Matthew Lownes] […], published 1602, →OCLC, Act II, scene iv, signature E2, verso:
  But on the ſodaine ſtraight Ile ſtand amaz'd, / And fall in exclamations of thy vertues.
- 1631, Thomas Powell, “For Benefices Abroad”, in Tom of All Trades, or The Plaine Path-way to Preferment. […], London: […] B[ernard] Alsop and T[homas] Fawcet, for Benjamen Fisher, […], →OCLC, page 17:
  [M]any Patrons are content to preſent, according to the approbation of the Pariſhioners upon their hearing, and allovving, and due exclamation of the integrity of the life of ſuch ſuitors, and no othervviſe, divers governors, and gradations of the lands of divers Hoſpitals, and Meſons de dien have like right of preſentation to Benefices, as have other bodies Incorporate.