Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense wonders, present participle wondering, past tense, past participle wondered
1. verb
If you wonderabout something, you think about it, either because it interests you and you want to know more about it, or because you are worried or suspicious about it.
I wondered what that noise was. [VERB wh]
'He claims to be her father,' said Max. 'We've been wondering about him.' [VERB + about]
It makes you wonder about the effect on men's behaviour. [Vabout n]
'Why does she want to get in there?' Pete wondered. [VERB with quote]
But there was something else, too. Not hard evidence, but it made me wonder. [VERB]
2. verb
If you wonderat something, you are very surprised about it or think about it in a very surprisedway.
He liked to sit and wonder at all that had happened. [VERBat noun]
Walk down Castle Street, admire our little jewel of a cathedral, then wonder at thecastle. [VERB + at]
We all wonder that you're still alive. [VERB that]
3. singular noun
If you say that it is a wonderthat something happened, you mean that it is very surprising and unexpected.
It's a wonder that it took almost ten years.
The wonder is that Olivier was not seriously hurt.
4. uncountable noun
Wonder is a feeling of great surprise and pleasure that you have, for example when you see something that is very beautiful, or when something happens that you thought was impossible.
'That's right!' Bobby exclaimed in wonder. 'How did you remember that?'
I was expressing some amazement and wonder at her good fortune.
Cross shook his head in wonder.
Synonyms: amazement, surprise, curiosity, admiration More Synonyms of wonder
5. countable noun
A wonder is something that causes people to feel great surprise or admiration.
...a lecture on the wonders of space and space exploration. [+ of]
...the wonder of seeing his name in print. [+ of]
The East Window is a wonder of medieval glazing.
Synonyms: phenomenon, sight, miracle, spectacle More Synonyms of wonder
6. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
If you refer, for example, to a young man as a wonder boy, or to a new product as a wonder drug, you mean that they are believed by many people to be very good or very effective.
He was hailed as the wonder boy of American golf.
Dr Williams describes it as a potential wonder drug.
7.
See nine/seven/ten-day wonder
8.
See I wonder
9.
See no/little wonder
10.
See no wonder
11.
See work/do wonders
More Synonyms of wonder
wonder in British English
(ˈwʌndə)
noun
1.
the feeling excited by something strange; a mixture of surprise, curiosity, and sometimes awe
2.
something that causes such a feeling, such as a miracle
3. Seven Wonders of the World
4. (modifier)
exciting wonder by virtue of spectacular results achieved, feats performed, etc
a wonder drug
a wonder horse
5. do wonders
6. for a wonder
7. nine days' wonder
8. no wonder
9. small wonder
verb(when tr, may take a clause as object)
10. (whenintr, often foll by about)
to indulge in speculative inquiry, often accompanied by an element of doubt (concerning something)
I wondered about what she said
I wonder what happened
11. (whenintr, often foll by at)
to be amazed (at something)
I wonder at your impudence
Derived forms
wonderer (ˈwonderer)
noun
wonderless (ˈwonderless)
adjective
Word origin
Old English wundor; related to Old Saxon wundar, Old Norse undr, German Wunder
Wonder in British English
(ˈwʌndə)
noun
Stevie. real name Steveland Judkins Morris. born 1950, US Motown singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. His recordings include Up-Tight (1966), "Superstition" (1972), Innervisions (1973), Songs in the Key of Life (1976), and "I Just Called to Say I Love You" (1985)
wonder in American English
(ˈwʌndər)
noun
1.
a person, thing, or event that causes astonishment and admiration; prodigy; marvel
2.
the feeling of surprise, admiration, and awe aroused by something strange, unexpected, incredible, etc.
gazing in wonder at the comet
3.
a miraculous or apparently miraculous thing or act; miracle
verb intransitive
4.
to be seized or filled with wonder; feel amazement; marvel
5.
to have curiosity, sometimes mingled with doubt
verb transitive
6.
to have curiosity or doubt about; want to know
I wonder what happened
Idioms:
do wonders for
for a wonder
no wonder!
Derived forms
wonderer (ˈwonderer)
noun
Word origin
ME < OE wundor, akin to Ger wunder: only in Gmc
More idioms containing
wonder
a one-day wonder
COBUILD Collocations
wonder
childlike wonder
wide-eyed wonder
Examples of 'wonder' in a sentence
wonder
The city added a plaque giving details of his career because people wondered who he was.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
No wonder you feel hurt and low.
The Sun (2016)
Many wondered how this might be accomplished.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
No wonder we can get it wrong.
The Sun (2016)
The couple were wondering what else they could do to sell the house.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Indeed we wondered about the great and vaunted academy systems into which millions have been poured over the last decade or so.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
I thought there might be new wonder drugs, which there were after the first cancer.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Our friendship is still good and I wonder whether we could have a future together as a proper couple.
The Sun (2016)
Sometimes we wonder how people get home.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This wonder product keeps brows looking sleek all day.
The Sun (2012)
No wonder this little island is the utopia for so many repressed people.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
You almost wonder what all the fuss was about.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Yet it makes you wonder about the doubts and fears that might lurk beneath.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It left most visitors filled with wonder and admiration.
Brian Thompson DEVASTATING EDEN: The Search for Utopia in America (2004)
Young people are scratching their heads and wondering what it all means.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Is it any wonder that good teachers snap?
The Sun (2009)
Little wonder the film gets more popular with each passing year.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They need to move fast because voters are beginning to wonder about their seriousness.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You wonder what else the club can do to bring fresh scorn upon its head.
The Sun (2009)
It is little wonder that the world stands enthralled.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Yet they evoked awe and wonder and many were canonized.
Bain, Roly Fools Rush In - A Call to Christian Clowning (1993)
No wonder the poor man needed a holiday.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
No wonder great players are drooling over it.
The Sun (2014)
You wonder how many it would take to change a light bulb.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
What wonders had they seen on their journey?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
No wonder so many say they're quitting.
The Sun (2015)
It's good to see a space film that is actually impressed by the wonders of space.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Which makes us wonder: what surprises has Val got planned for the funeral itself?
The Sun (2015)
In other languages
wonder
British English: wonder /ˈwʌndə/ VERB
If you wonder about something, you think about it and try to guess or understand more about it.
I wondered what that noise was.
American English: wonder
Arabic: يَتَسَاءَلُ
Brazilian Portuguese: querer saber
Chinese: 想知道
Croatian: pitati se
Czech: přemýšlet
Danish: tænke
Dutch: afvragen (zich)
European Spanish: preguntarse
Finnish: ihmetellä
French: se demander
German: fragen (sich)
Greek: διερωτώμαι
Italian: stupirsi
Japanese: 怪しむ
Korean: 기이하게 여기다
Norwegian: undre
Polish: zastanowić (się)
European Portuguese: querer saber
Romanian: a se întreba
Russian: удивляться
Latin American Spanish: preguntarse
Swedish: undra
Thai: สงสัย
Turkish: merak etmek
Ukrainian: цікавитися
Vietnamese: tự hỏi
British English: wonder ADJECTIVE
If you refer, for example, to a young man as a wonder boy, or to a new product as a wonder drug, you mean that they are believed by many people to be very good or very effective.
He was hailed as the wonder boy of the golfing world.
American English: wonder
Brazilian Portuguese: prodígio
Chinese: 神奇的
European Spanish: milagroso
French: prodige
German: Wunder-
Italian: rivelazionegiocatore, squadra
Japanese: 素晴らしい
Korean: 경이로운
European Portuguese: prodígio
Latin American Spanish: milagroso
British English: wonder NOUN
If you say that it is a wonder that something happened, you mean that it is very surprising and unexpected.
It's a wonder that it took almost ten years.
American English: wonder
Brazilian Portuguese: maravilha
Chinese: 奇迹
European Spanish: maravilla
French: chose étonnanteN
German: Wunder
Italian: cosa incredibile
Japanese: 驚き
Korean: 경이로운 일
European Portuguese: maravilha
Latin American Spanish: maravilla
All related terms of 'wonder'
I wonder
You can say ' I wonder ' if you want to be very polite when you are asking someone to do something, or when you are asking them for their opinion or for information .
no wonder
You can say ' No wonder ' when you find out the reason for something that has been puzzling you for some time.
boy wonder
a young man who is extremely good at a particular activity or who has a particular talent or skill
wonder boy
an outstanding person; prodigy
wonder drug
a drug that many people believe to be very effective
wonder girl
an outstanding girl or woman
small wonder
(I am) hardly surprised (that)
wonder-struck
struck with wonder , surprise, admiration , etc.
chinless wonder
a person, esp an upper-class one, lacking strength of character
for a wonder
surprisingly or amazingly
childlike wonder
Wonder is a feeling of great surprise and pleasure that you have, for example when you see something that is very beautiful , or when something happens that you thought was impossible .
one-hit wonder
a singer , composer or group that only ever has one successful piece
a one-day wonder
something or someone that is interesting , exciting , or successful for only a very short time, and does not have any lasting value
nine-days wonder
something that arouses great interest , but only for a short period
nine-day wonder
something that arouses great interest, but only for a short period
wide-eyed wonder
Wonder is a feeling of great surprise and pleasure that you have, for example when you see something that is very beautiful , or when something happens that you thought was impossible .
no/little wonder small wonder
If you say ' no wonder ', ' little wonder ', or ' small wonder ', you mean that something is not surprising .
nine/seven/ten-day wonder
If you say that someone or something is a nine -day wonder or a one -day wonder , you disapprove of the fact that they are attracting so much interest and attention , because you think that their popularity will only last for a very short time.
wonderwork
something done or made that excites wonder ; miracle or wonder
Chinese translation of 'wonder'
wonder
(ˈwʌndəʳ)
n
(c) (= miracle) 奇迹(蹟) (qíjì)
(u) (= awe) 惊(驚)奇 (jīngqí)
vt
to wonder whether/why etc想知道是否/为(為)什么(麼)等 (xiǎng zhīdào shìfǒu/wèi shénme děng)
vi
感到奇怪 (gǎndào qíguài)
it's a wonder that ... 奇怪的是 ... (qíguài de shì ... )