exclaim
B2Formal/Neutral
Definition
Meaning
To cry out suddenly and vehemently, as in surprise, anger, or strong emotion.
To declare something emphatically; to utter with loud, forceful speech.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often used for direct speech introduced by a verb. Implies spontaneity and emotional force; not typically used for calm statements.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage; the word behaves identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Same connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both corpora; perhaps slightly more common in literary contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
'What is that?' he exclaimed.He exclaimed that it was impossible.She exclaimed in surprise.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “'Aha!' she exclaimed.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; limited to expressing strong reaction in meetings (e.g., 'He exclaimed at the unexpected profit figures').
Academic
Used in literary analysis and historical narration.
Everyday
Common in storytelling and reporting speech.
Technical
Not used in technical registers.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- 'Blimey!' he exclaimed, dropping his spanner.
- She exclaimed at the dreadful state of the pavement.
American English
- 'Wow!' she exclaimed, seeing the Grand Canyon.
- He exclaimed that the traffic was unbelievable.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- 'Hello!' she exclaimed.
- 'Look!' he exclaimed.
- 'I won!' he exclaimed happily.
- She exclaimed in surprise when she saw the gift.
- 'This is absolutely outrageous!' the customer exclaimed.
- Reading the letter, he exclaimed that it was a terrible mistake.
- 'Upon my soul!' exclaimed the vicar, aghast at the suggestion.
- Critics exclaimed over the audacity of the director's new interpretation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone seeing a CLAIM form and shouting 'EX-claim!' in surprise.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTION IS A FORCE ESCAPING FROM A CONTAINER (the outburst).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not a direct equivalent of 'воскликнуть' in all contexts; 'exclaim' is more specific to emotional outbursts.
- Avoid using for simple 'say' or 'state'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for neutral speech: *'He exclaimed that the meeting was at 3 pm.' (Incorrect, too neutral).
- Confusing with 'proclaim' or 'acclaim'.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'exclaim' used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is used for any strong emotion, including surprise, anger, dismay, or delight.
Yes, but it's less common. The pattern 'He exclaimed that...' is grammatical but often replaced by 'He cried out that...' or similar.
The related noun is 'exclamation'. There is no direct noun '*exclaim'.
'Exclaim' focuses on the sudden, emotional content of the utterance, often the words themselves. 'Shout' focuses on the volume and intensity of the voice. You can shout without exclaiming (e.g., shouting for help), and theoretically exclaim without shouting (though it's usually loud).