1
2
: the quality of exciting amazed admiration
3
a
: rapt attention or astonishment at something awesomely mysterious or new to one's experience
b
: a feeling of doubt or uncertainty
wondered; wondering
ˈwən-d(ə-)riŋ 
1
a
: to be in a state of wonder
b
: to feel surprise
2
: to feel curiosity or doubt
wondering about the future
: to be curious or in doubt about
wonders why birds sing
Synonyms
Examples of wonder in a Sentence
Noun
The Grand Canyon is one of the natural wonders of the world.
This new computer is a technological wonder.
The child's eyes were filled with wonder during the trip to the circus.
We watched the fireworks show with wonder and amazement.
She gazed up at the tall buildings in wonder.
Is it any wonder why this movie is so popular?
Verb
Have you ever wondered why the sky is blue?
Who could that be at the door, I wonder?
She wondered aloud what to do with the money.
I was wondering about that.
Sometimes his behavior makes me wonder.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2023
What about the aesthetic experiences they are designed to instill—of beauty, of wonder, of fear, of pride?
—Christopher Hawthorne, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2023
Mel and Jack hold hands and look around with wonder.
—Kelly Martinez, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2023
Gaze upon Monalisa and Venus de Milo in the Louvre, discover Impressionist wonders in the Musée de l'Orangerie, and take time to get lost down the French capital’s back street, looking up at the architectural details fine-tuned over centuries.
—Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2023
Fantasy, at its best, can reconnect you with your imagination and sense of wonder.
—Juliana Ukiomogbe, ELLE, 8 Sep. 2023
In addition, standardization and transparency within the world of brand collaborations would do wonders in building a financially equitable economy.
—Solo Ceesay, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2023
Lighting can do wonders in a room, regardless of its size.
—Mariah Thomas, Good Housekeeping, 8 Sep. 2023
Method 2: How to Clean Leather with Vinegar This may sound surprising, but vinegar can work wonders on leather.
—Natalie Schumann, Country Living, 31 Aug. 2023
Elinda Labropoulou, Washington Post, 2 Sep. 2023
After Nick Saban decried the practice on Monday, citing player attitudes about playing time, the public had been left wondering what the Crimson Tide’s two-deep looked like before Week 1.
—Nick Alvarez | Nalvarez@al.com, al, 2 Sep. 2023
Some will wonder what is their significance, if any?
—Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 1 Sep. 2023
Once the song and video were out, some wondered who could have inspired the tune.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 1 Sep. 2023
Welcome to Screen Gab, the newsletter for everyone who ever wondered what Pablo Picasso has to do with high-fantasy storytelling.
—Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2023
But many wondered, did the Cold War era program uncover and subsequently cover up the discovery of objects beyond human control, representing a potential threat?
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2023
When the film was released in May, everyone wondered how many superhero films Zaslav had watched before this one.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Sep. 2023
At some point, even the most understanding fellow patron will wonder if forgoing the third drink purchase might have also obviated the necessity for the third bathroom stop.
—Miss Manners | Judith Martin, Anchorage Daily News, 31 Aug. 2023
Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 7 Dec. 2021
It’s no wonder European markets are drooling at the prospect of grabbing a bigger slice of the SPAC pie.
—Adrian Croft, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2021
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Noun
More out there to experience, more to encounter, more mystery, more wonder, more to the most famous street in the movies than what meets the eye.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2023
What about the aesthetic experiences they are designed to instill—of beauty, of wonder, of fear, of pride?
—Christopher Hawthorne, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2023
Mel and Jack hold hands and look around with wonder.
—Kelly Martinez, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2023
Gaze upon Monalisa and Venus de Milo in the Louvre, discover Impressionist wonders in the Musée de l'Orangerie, and take time to get lost down the French capital’s back street, looking up at the architectural details fine-tuned over centuries.
—Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2023
Fantasy, at its best, can reconnect you with your imagination and sense of wonder.
—Juliana Ukiomogbe, ELLE, 8 Sep. 2023
In addition, standardization and transparency within the world of brand collaborations would do wonders in building a financially equitable economy.
—Solo Ceesay, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2023
Lighting can do wonders in a room, regardless of its size.
—Mariah Thomas, Good Housekeeping, 8 Sep. 2023
Method 2: How to Clean Leather with Vinegar This may sound surprising, but vinegar can work wonders on leather.
—Natalie Schumann, Country Living, 31 Aug. 2023
Verb
But with summer temperatures in Southern Europe warming at a rate three times faster than the global average, many people here wonder whether the Mediterranean way of life can be saved.
—Elinda Labropoulou, Washington Post, 2 Sep. 2023
After Nick Saban decried the practice on Monday, citing player attitudes about playing time, the public had been left wondering what the Crimson Tide’s two-deep looked like before Week 1.
—Nick Alvarez | Nalvarez@al.com, al, 2 Sep. 2023
Some will wonder what is their significance, if any?
—Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 1 Sep. 2023
Once the song and video were out, some wondered who could have inspired the tune.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 1 Sep. 2023
Welcome to Screen Gab, the newsletter for everyone who ever wondered what Pablo Picasso has to do with high-fantasy storytelling.
—Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2023
But many wondered, did the Cold War era program uncover and subsequently cover up the discovery of objects beyond human control, representing a potential threat?
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2023
When the film was released in May, everyone wondered how many superhero films Zaslav had watched before this one.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Sep. 2023
At some point, even the most understanding fellow patron will wonder if forgoing the third drink purchase might have also obviated the necessity for the third bathroom stop.
—Miss Manners | Judith Martin, Anchorage Daily News, 31 Aug. 2023
Adjective
This was half a century ago, but there is still wonder in his voice.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 7 Dec. 2021
It’s no wonder European markets are drooling at the prospect of grabbing a bigger slice of the SPAC pie.
—Adrian Croft, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2021
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wonder.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English wundor; akin to Old High German wuntar wonder
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
Adjective
12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of wonder was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing wonder
Articles Related to wonder
Dictionary Entries Near wonder
Cite this Entry
“Wonder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wonder. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
wonder
1 of 2 noun
won·der
ˈwən-dər
1
: something extraordinary or surprising : marvel
the pyramid is a wonder of ancient Egypt
2
a
: a feeling (as awe, astonishment, or uncertainty) caused by something extraordinary, mysterious, or new to one's experience
b
: the quality of exciting wonder
the charm and wonder of the scene
Biographical Definition
Wonder
biographical name
Won·der
ˈwən-dər
Stevie 1950– born Stevland Hardaway Judkins American singer, songwriter and instrumentalist
More from Merriam-Webster on wonder
Nglish: Translation of wonder for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of wonder for Arabic Speakers
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