What does exclaiming mean?
Exclaiming is the present participle of the verb 'exclaim', meaning to cry out or speak suddenly and with strong emotion, usually in response to surprise, delight, anger, or pain. When someone is exclaiming, their words burst out rather than being delivered calmly; the term implies volume and intensity, though an exclamation can also be sharp and brief. In everyday usage, the word appears most often in storytelling and journalism, where writers describe characters or witnesses as 'exclaiming' before quoting their words — a device that signals emotional immediacy to the reader. The word derives from the Latin exclamare, formed from ex- ('out') and clamare ('to cry out'), placing it in a large family of English words concerned with loud vocal expression, including 'clamor', 'proclaim', and 'acclaim'. Because it denotes spontaneous reaction, 'exclaiming' often conveys vividness and authenticity: people exclaim when genuine feeling overtakes composure, making the word useful for describing moments of unguarded emotion.
verb (present participle and gerund of 'exclaim')The present participle of 'exclaim': crying out or speaking suddenly and emphatically, typically from surprise, strong emotion, or excitement.
- To cry out or speak suddenly and vehemently, especially from surprise, anger, joy, or pain.
- (Gerund use) The act of uttering something emphatically, often used to report speech in narrative writing.
"'What a magnificent view!' she said, exclaiming loudly enough to turn every head on the terrace."
"'I can't believe we actually won!' he kept exclaiming as the confetti fell."
"The tour guide walked the ridge, exclaiming at every new panorama that opened below."
Every time you exclaim, you're echoing the Latin clamare — the same cry that gives us 'clamor', 'acclaim', and even 'claim'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of exclaiming
'Exclaiming' derives from 'exclaim', which English borrowed in the 16th century from the Latin exclamare, meaning 'to cry out', itself formed from ex- ('out') and clamare ('to shout'). The same Latin root clamare underlies a whole family of English words about loud or public utterance, including 'clamor', 'proclaim', 'declaim', and 'acclaim'. The participial form 'exclaiming' developed naturally as part of the verb's regular English inflection.
Related word forms
How exclaiming is actually used
'Exclaiming' is largely a verb form rather than an independent word, appearing most often in narrative and reported speech. It carries a connotation of spontaneous emotion — it is not used for calm or deliberate statements. In literary style, it frequently introduces quoted dialogue.
Easily confused with exclaiming
While 'exclaiming' means crying out suddenly from emotion, 'proclaiming' means announcing something formally or publicly.