What does exclamation mean?
An exclamation is a sudden, forceful utterance that expresses strong emotion — surprise, delight, anger, pain, or alarm. It may be a spontaneous cry ('Ouch!') or a grammatically structured remark such as 'What a wonderful surprise!' In writing, exclamations are conventionally marked with an exclamation point, which signals their heightened tone to the reader. The word also functions in technical contexts: grammarians classify 'exclamatory sentences' as a distinct sentence type alongside statements, questions, and commands. Exclamation carries no inherent positive or negative connotation; it simply marks emotional intensity. Derived from Latin roots meaning 'to cry out', it entered English via French in the late Middle Ages and has remained a stable, widely used term. Understanding exclamation helps readers interpret tone in literature and dialogue, and helps writers control the emotional temperature of their prose without overreliance on punctuation.
nounA sudden, emphatic cry or remark expressing strong emotion such as surprise, anger, or joy; also, a short utterance — typically ending in an exclamation mark — that conveys such feeling.
- A sudden, emphatic utterance expressing strong emotion (surprise, pain, joy, anger), especially one spoken abruptly.
- In grammar and printing, a short statement — often beginning with 'what' or 'how' or an interjection — conventionally marked with an exclamation point.
"'What a view!' she cried, and her exclamation of delight echoed across the valley."
"Her exclamation of astonishment turned every head in the quiet reading room."
"In written dialogue, each exclamation is typically punctuated with an exclamation mark to convey its emotional force."
The plural is regular and commonly used when referring to multiple utterances or to the category of exclamatory remarks.
"The crowd's exclamations of amazement rose as each firework burst overhead."
The exclamation mark was originally called the 'note of admiration' — and for centuries, some writers added it by hand after every interjection, dotting it with the letter I above a period.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of exclamation
Exclamation derives from the Latin verb exclamare, meaning 'to cry out', formed from the prefix ex- ('out') plus clamare ('to shout, call'), a root shared with claim, acclaim, proclaim, and clamour. The word passed into English in the late Middle Ages through Old French exclamation, initially referring to any loud outcry or emotional interjection. Over time it narrowed and specialized, acquiring its modern grammatical sense of an emphatic utterance marked by an exclamation point, a usage that developed alongside the standardization of punctuation in early modern printing.
Related word forms
How exclamation is actually used
Exclamation is a neutral, standard word in both British and American English. In older literary usage, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries, the term could refer more broadly to any interpolated emotional outburst within speech; today it is most commonly encountered in discussions of punctuation and grammar as well as in narrative description of spoken outbursts.
Easily confused with exclamation
Exclamation is a noun referring to the utterance itself, while exclamatory is an adjective describing sentences or expressions that convey strong emotion.
Acclamation means enthusiastic approval or applause, whereas exclamation is any sudden emotional utterance, not necessarily one of approval.