wonder
Verbwonders, wondering, wondered
Noun pluralwonders
Formswonders, wondering, wondered
Pluralwonders
- 1To think about something you are not sure of, because you want to know more.
Like having a question in your head that you keep turning over.
I often wonder what my old friends are doing now.
She sat quietly by the window, wondering to herself.
UsageSay I wonder if ... or I wonder what .... I was wondering if ... asks politely.
- 2Something amazing, such as a place, object, or achievement, that fills people with surprise and admiration.
Like something so amazing you cannot stop looking at it.
The old castle is a real wonder to see.
The pyramids are wonders built thousands of years ago.
UsageSay a natural wonder, or one of the wonders of the world.
Similarmarvel, phenomenon
- 3A strong feeling of surprise and amazement at something new or hard to explain.
Like the amazed feeling you get when you see snow for the very first time.
The kids looked up at the stars full of wonder.
She felt great wonder the first time she saw the ocean.
UsageSay full of wonder or a sense of wonder.
Similarawe, amazement, astonishment, fascination
Note
- 4To feel great surprise or amazement at something.
Like staring with your mouth open at something amazing.
Visitors wonder at the beauty of the ancient temple.
The crowd wondered at the magician's clever tricks.
UsageSay wonder at something amazing.
Similarmarvel
Note
Less common meanings
- 5Something surprising or lucky that is hard to explain, as in 'It's a wonder nobody was hurt.'
Like something turning out fine when you were sure it would not.
It's a wonder no one was hurt in the crash.
It was a wonder the old car started at all.
UsageSay it's a wonder .... No wonder means it is not surprising.
- 6
- 7Used after a word ending in '-less' to make an unkind name for someone.
Hurry up and help us, you useless wonder!
That clueless wonder has lost the tickets again.
UsageOften you useless wonder or you brainless wonder.
Note
- 8A short time spent thinking something over.
Miss Paynter had a little wonder as to whether the man, as she called Mr. Lacy in her own mind, had ever been admitted to this room. She thought not.
1934, Katharine Tynan, The house of dreams - 9A sweet fried cake, much like a donut or a twisted cruller.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
The noun comes from Old English wundor, meaning a wonder or miracle. The verb comes from Old English wundrian. Both go back to old Germanic roots and are related to German Wunder.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
- The noun comes from Old English wundor, meaning wonder or miracle. en.wiktionary.org
- The verb comes from Old English wundrian. en.wiktionary.org
- The noun and verb have Germanic roots, with the verb derived from the noun's root. en.wiktionary.org
- Both forms are related to German Wunder. en.wiktionary.org