wonder

Formswonders, wondering, wondered

Pluralwonders

1. 1
   puzzle oververbtransitive or intransitive

   To think about something with doubt and curiosity, asking yourself a question in your mind.

   I wonder whether we made the right choice about the house.

   He wondered for a long time before finally answering.

   UsageUsually wonder if, whether or what ...; I was wondering if you could ... is a polite request.

   Similarponder, speculate, question, muse

2. 2
   nouncountable

   Something so remarkable, such as a place, object, or achievement, that it causes awe or astonishment; a marvel.

   The Grand Canyon is one of the great natural wonders of the planet.

   Travelers cross continents just to see this ancient wonder.

   UsageCommon in natural wonders and one of the wonders of the world.

   Similarmarvel, phenomenon

3. 3
   feeling of awenoununcountable

   A feeling of awe, astonishment, and curiosity inspired by something unexpected, novel, or hard to explain.

   The children stared at the fireworks with open-mouthed wonder.

   A deep sense of wonder filled the explorers as the vast cave opened before them.

   UsageOften a sense of wonder, full of wonder, stare in wonder.

   Similarawe, amazement, astonishment, fascination

   Note

   As a mass noun it fills people: the King James Bible of 1611 has a crowd "filled with wonder and amazement." Samuel Johnson called it "the effect of novelty upon ignorance," while Jowett's Plato makes it the place philosophy begins. The word swings between childlike surprise and serious curiosity. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

   • The King James Bible was first published in 1611. en.wikipedia.org
   • The King James Bible describes people as filled with wonder and amazement. en.wikisource.org
   • Samuel Johnson described wonder as the effect of novelty upon ignorance. gutenberg.org
   • Benjamin Jowett's translation of Plato presents wonder as the beginning of philosophy; Socrates speaks the passage in Theaetetus. gutenberg.org
4. 4
   be amazedverbintransitive

   To be filled with surprise or admiration; to be struck with astonishment, often at something remarkable.

   Scientists still wonder at the sheer complexity of the human brain.

   She wondered at how quickly the seasons seemed to change.

   UsageUsually wonder at something: you wonder at a sunset, but wonder whether it will rain.

   Similarmarvel

   Note

   Swift's Gulliver in 1726 could not "sufficiently wonder at the Intrepidity" of tiny mortals. It also survives in an understated idiom, "He's married by now, I shouldn't wonder," meaning I would not be surprised. The astonishment is denied, and that denial is the point. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

   • The quoted passage was published in 1726. en.wikipedia.org
   • The quotation contains the words “sufficiently wonder at the Intrepidity” and concerns tiny people. en.wiktionary.org

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