WONDER

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does wonder mean? 

• WONDER (noun)
  The noun WONDER has 3 senses:

1. the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

2. something that causes feelings of wonder

3. a state in which you want to learn more about something

  Familiarity information: WONDER used as a noun is uncommon.

• WONDER (verb)
  The verb WONDER has 3 senses:

1. have a wish or desire to know something

2. place in doubt or express doubtful speculation

3. be amazed at

  Familiarity information: WONDER used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WONDER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

admiration; wonder; wonderment

Hypernyms ("wonder" is a kind of...):

amazement; astonishment (the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "wonder"):

awe (an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration)

Derivation:

wonder (be amazed at)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Something that causes feelings of wonder

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

marvel; wonder

Context example:

the wonders of modern science

Hypernyms ("wonder" is a kind of...):

happening; natural event; occurrence; occurrent (an event that happens)

Derivation:

wonder (be amazed at)

wondrous (extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A state in which you want to learn more about something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

curiosity; wonder

Hypernyms ("wonder" is a kind of...):

cognitive state; state of mind (the state of a person's cognitive processes)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "wonder"):

desire to know; lust for learning; thirst for knowledge (curiosity that motivates investigation and study)

interest; involvement (a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something)

curiousness; inquisitiveness (a state of active curiosity)

Derivation:

wonder (have a wish or desire to know something)

• WONDER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they wonder    ... he / she / it wonders   
Past simple: wondered   
Past participle: wondered   
-ing form: wondering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Have a wish or desire to know something

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

enquire; inquire; wonder

Context example:

He wondered who had built this beautiful church

Hypernyms (to "wonder" is one way to...):

query; question (pose a question)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "wonder"):

request (inquire for (information))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE

Derivation:

wonder (a state in which you want to learn more about something)

wonderer (someone who is curious about something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Place in doubt or express doubtful speculation

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

question; wonder

Context example:

she wondered whether it would snow tonight

Hypernyms (to "wonder" is one way to...):

chew over; contemplate; excogitate; meditate; mull; mull over; muse; ponder; reflect; ruminate; speculate; think over (reflect deeply on a subject)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "wonder"):

scruple (have doubts about)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They wonder whether there was a traffic accident

Sense 3

Meaning:

Be amazed at

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

marvel; wonder

Context example:

We marvelled at the child's linguistic abilities

Hypernyms (to "wonder" is one way to...):

react; respond (show a response or a reaction to something)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue wonder over the results of the experiment

Derivation:

wonder (something that causes feelings of wonder)

wonder (the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising)

wonderer (someone filled with admiration and awe; someone who wonders at something)

wonderment (the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising)

 Context examples 

It always strikes me as the most comfortable apartment in the house, and I rather wonder that Eleanor should not take it for her own.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

I did very much wonder, in all this time, not to have heard of any express relating to me from our emperor to the court of Blefuscu.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Jim looked curiously at him, wondering evidently what it was that lay behind these abrupt sentences and sudden silences.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You suddenly may be setting the date, even if you are wondering if you are ready.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Scott could only look in wonder.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

He had often wondered what it was.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I hardly looked at him, I was looking at the horses; but I think he had something of the Elliot countenance, I wonder the arms did not strike me!

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Alleyne smiled as he wondered what fantastic and wondrous deed would be exacted from him.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The king’s son remained there a short while longer, and he thought of his mother, and wondered if she were still alive.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

I only wonder how the good people can keep it up so long.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)