# exclamation

/ˌɛkskɫəˈmeɪʃən/ (US) · /ɛksklɐmˈeɪʃən/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/exclamation
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a short, sudden sound or word that you say to show a strong feeling. It is often used when you are surprised, angry, or excited.

For teachers: a sudden, forceful cry or utterance expressing strong emotion such as surprise, pain, or joy. Often used to describe a short grammatical unit that stands alone without a subject or verb.

## Examples

- He let out a loud exclamation of surprise when he saw the gift.
- The quiet of the library was broken by a sharp exclamation from a student who had just spilled coffee.
- While the author's early work relied heavily on the dramatic exclamation to convey tension, her later novels achieved the same emotional depth through subtle, understated dialogue.

## Usage notes

- Often followed by the preposition 'of' to specify the emotion, such as an 'exclamation of delight' or 'exclamation of horror'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.