Meaning & use
exclaim
Last updated
UK/ɪkˈskleɪm/
US/ɪkˈskleɪm/
Meaning
verbtransitive or intransitive
To say something suddenly and with strong feeling, often loudly.
Grammar: Can be used with quoted speech: 'I won!' she exclaimed. Also used without an object: She exclaimed in surprise.
Patterns
- exclaim something
- exclaim in surprise
- exclaim at something
- exclaim that ...
“What a beautiful view!” she exclaimed.
He exclaimed in delight when he saw the puppy.
The crowd exclaimed at the magician's trick.
Word forms
| third person singular | exclaims |
|---|---|
| past tense | exclaimed |
| past participle | exclaimed |
| -ing form | exclaiming |
Common combinations
- exclaim in surprise
- She exclaimed in surprise when she opened the gift.
- exclaim with delight
- The children exclaimed with delight at the fireworks.
- exclaim loudly
- He exclaimed loudly, “Watch out!”
- exclaim at the sight of something
- They exclaimed at the sight of the huge cake.
Synonyms and how they differ
- shout
- Shout is more about volume and can be angry or neutral; exclaim often shows sudden emotion like surprise or joy.
- cry out
- Cry out is similar but often suggests pain or fear; exclaim is broader and common with quoted speech.
- blurt out
- Blurt out means saying something without thinking, often a secret; exclaim does not imply lack of control.
Word family
- exclamation noun
- A sudden, strong spoken statement, often written with an exclamation mark.
Commonly confused: exclaim or exclaim?
exclaim vs exclaim
Not to be confused with 'exclaim' and 'exclamation'—the verb is exclaim, the noun is exclamation.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
The correct preposition with 'exclaim' to show the emotion is 'in': exclaim in surprise. The other prepositions do not fit this pattern.
Make it your own
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