exclaim
To shout out suddenly with surprise or excitement.
exclaim in a sentence
- 'It's snowing!' exclaimed Poppy, pressing her nose against the frosty window.
- 'Look, a dolphin!' I heard Dad exclaim, his shout of surprise carrying right down the beach.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to exclaim?
- Awhisper
- Bmutter
- Cshout
- Dmurmur
Show the answer
C: shout. The other three mean the opposite of exclaim.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to exclaim?
- Ayell
- Bwhisper
- Cshout
- Dcry
Show the answer
B: whisper. The other three mean nearly the same as exclaim.
Words that mean something similar
shout, cry, yell
Words that mean the opposite
whisper, murmur, mutter
More words about speech & sound
- explicit: Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no doubt.
- gruff: Rough and unfriendly in voice or manner.
- harmonious: Going together in a peaceful and pleasant way.
- hubbub: A loud noise made by lots of voices at once.
- hushed: Very quiet and still.
- implore: To beg someone desperately to do something.
- imply: To suggest something without actually saying it.
- inaudible: So quiet that it cannot be heard.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test