exclaim

exclaim — verb

1. to make a sudden loud statement that shows a strong feeling you have just had, s

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to make a sudden loud statement that shows a strong feeling you have just had, such as being shocked, thrilled, annoyed, or hurt.

Example

When Vinícius opened the gift, he exclaimed in delight at the vintage guitar inside.

collocation: exclaim in delight

"That can't be true!" Tamar exclaimed, staring at the letter in disbelief.

pattern: direct speech + exclaimed

Common collocations
  • exclaim in delight / surprise / frustration / horror / anger
  • exclaim with joy / excitement / relief
  • exclaim at the sight / the news / the price
Synonyms
  • cry out

    less formal than exclaim; can be a wordless shout of alarm or pain

  • shout

    broader meaning; does not necessarily carry surprise or sudden emotion

  • blurt out

    more sudden and less controlled; suggests saying something without thinking first

  • declare

    more formal; used for planned or deliberate announcements rather than sudden reactions

Antonyms
  • whisper

    quiet and restrained — opposite of the loud, emotional quality of exclaim

Grammar Patterns

exclaim + [direct speech]

exclaim + [that-clause]

exclaim + in/with/at + [emotion or trigger]

Usage Note

The emotion that triggers the exclamation is almost always stated alongside the verb (e.g., exclaim in surprise, exclaim with delight, exclaim in frustration). This word appears more often in written stories than in everyday conversation.

Common Mistakes

He exclaimed loudly to get the waiter's attention.
He called out loudly to get the waiter's attention.
Exclaim implies strong emotion, not merely a loud voice.
She exclaimed that the meeting would begin at 2 pm.
She announced that the meeting would begin at 2 pm.
Exclaim is used for sudden emotional reactions, not for stating scheduled information.

Word family

  • exclamation
    nounB1
  • exclamatory
    adjectiveC1
  • exclaiming
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four compared words describe a person speaking with intensity, but each differs in what triggers the utterance. 'Exclaim' always signals a sudden, emotion-driven outburst — surprise, delight, anger, or pain — and is most at home in written narration. 'Cry out' is less formal and can refer to a wordless shout of alarm or pain. 'Shout' simply means speaking very loudly and does not necessarily imply sudden emotion; you can shout instructions across a room without any strong feeling. 'Blurt out' emphasises a lack of control — saying something abruptly, often without thinking, which makes it more informal and slightly negative. 'Declare' is the most formal of the group and is used for planned or deliberate announcements (declaring independence, declaring your intentions). For example: 'She exclaimed in surprise when she saw the cake' is about the moment of shock; 'She declared that she would bake the cake herself' is about stating a decision.

cry out ↗shout ↗blurt outdeclare ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • exclamation of surprise / delight / dismay / horror / anger / triumph

Adverbs

Phrases

  • exclaim in amazement
  • exclaim in triumph
  • exclaim in protest

Prepositions

  • in (surprise / delight / frustration / horror / anger / protest)
  • with (joy / excitement / relief)
  • at (the sight / the news / the price)

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Exclaim comes from Latin 'exclamare', meaning 'to cry out'. It was formed by combining 'ex-' (meaning 'out') and 'clamare' (meaning 'to shout or cry'). English borrowed it from French 'exclamer' in the late 1500s, and by the 1600s it was being used the way we use it today — to describe a sudden, emotional outcry.