wondering

[ wuhn-der-ing ]

/ ˈwʌn dər ɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR wondering ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

expressing admiration or amazement; marveling.

Origin of wondering

First recorded in 1585–95; wonder + -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM wondering

won·der·ing·ly, adverb un·won·der·ing, adjective

Words nearby wondering

wonder drug, wonder-stricken, wonder-worker, wonderberry, wonderful, wondering, wonderkid, wonderland, wonderment, wonders will never cease, wonderwork

Definition for wondering (2 of 2)

wonder

[ wuhn-der ]

/ ˈwʌn dər /

verb (used without object)

to think or speculate curiously: to wonder about the origin of the solar system.

to be filled with admiration, amazement, or awe; marvel (often followed by at): He wondered at her composure in such a crisis.

to doubt: I wonder if she'll really get here.

verb (used with object)

to speculate curiously or be curious about; be curious to know: to wonder what happened.

to feel wonder at: I wonder that you went.

noun

something strange and surprising; a cause of surprise, astonishment, or admiration: That building is a wonder. It is a wonder he declined such an offer.

the emotion excited by what is strange and surprising; a feeling of surprised or puzzled interest, sometimes tinged with admiration: He felt wonder at seeing the Grand Canyon.

miraculous deed or event; remarkable phenomenon.

Origin of wonder

before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English wundor; cognate with Dutch wonder, German Wunder, Old Norse undr; (v.) Middle English wonderen, Old English wundrian, derivative of the noun

SYNONYMS FOR wonder

1 conjecture, meditate, ponder, question.

5 marvel.

7 surprise, astonishment, amazement, bewilderment, awe.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR wonder ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM wonder

won·der·er, noun won·der·less, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for wondering

Whether it is openly stated or not, I think everyone is wondering if they could find “the one.”

The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for Shots |Emily Shire |December 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
In the back of my mind I was wondering how much time we had before there might be an ominous knock at the door.

The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind |Brin-Jonathan Butler |December 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He said Jay was anxious and wondering why it was taking so long for the police to arrive.

Adnan Killed Her! No, Jay Did It! Serial’s Uncertain, True-to-Reality End |Emily Shire |December 18, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
You may be wondering what work of monumental consequence is contained within these gilded pages.

Rand Paul’s Many Leather-Bound Books |Olivia Nuzzi |November 27, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

The everyday stress, wondering if the other shoe was going to drop and I was going to be outed, is what led to me outing myself.

Exclusive: Michael Phelps’s Intersex Self-Proclaimed Girlfriend, Taylor Lianne Chandler, Tells All |Aurora Snow |November 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Convinced that the visitor was Soma, I pulled out my revolver and waited, wondering as I watched what he intended to do.

The White Waterfall |James Francis Dwyer
"Don't you ever get tired of staying in the water," Sparrow would say, wondering.

Verotchka's Tales |Mamin Siberiak
And you, when you remember to-day, dont let it be a memory only of sadness; but of my gratitude—my wondering gratitude.

Paths of Judgement |Anne Douglas Sedgwick
Harrison wove his way through them wondering where the hundreds of such evangelists had come from so suddenly.

The Sword |Frank Quattrocchi
She asked him, her eager eyes uplifted to his face, her small hands clasped, wondering and hope bursting into instant full dawn.

That Old-Time Child, Roberta |Sophie Fox Sea

British Dictionary definitions for wondering (1 of 2)

wonder

/ (ˈwʌndə) /

noun

the feeling excited by something strange; a mixture of surprise, curiosity, and sometimes awe

something that causes such a feeling, such as a miracle

See Seven Wonders of the World

(modifier) exciting wonder by virtue of spectacular results achieved, feats performed, etc a wonder drug; a wonder horse

do wonders or work wonders to achieve spectacularly fine results

for a wonder surprisingly or amazingly

nine days' wonder a subject that arouses general surprise or public interest for a short time

no wonder (sentence connector) (I am) not surprised at all (that) no wonder he couldn't come

small wonder (sentence connector) (I am) hardly surprised (that) small wonder he couldn't make it tonight

verb (when tr, may take a clause as object)

(when intr, 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

(when intr, often foll by at) to be amazed (at something) I wonder at your impudence

Derived forms of wonder

wonderer, noun wonderless, adjective

Word Origin for wonder

Old English wundor; related to Old Saxon wundar, Old Norse undr, German Wunder

British Dictionary definitions for wondering (2 of 2)

Wonder

/ (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)

Idioms and Phrases with wondering

wonder

In addition to the idiom beginning with wonder

wonders will never cease

also see:

for a wonder
no wonder
work wonders

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

wondering

adjective

Origin of wondering

OTHER WORDS FROM wondering

Words nearby wondering

Definition for wondering (2 of 2)

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Origin of wonder

SYNONYMS FOR wonder

OTHER WORDS FROM wonder

Example sentences from the Web for wondering

British Dictionary definitions for wondering (1 of 2)

noun

verb (when tr, may take a clause as object)

Derived forms of wonder

Word Origin for wonder

British Dictionary definitions for wondering (2 of 2)

noun

Idioms and Phrases with wondering

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

wondering

adjective

Origin of wondering

OTHER WORDS FROM wondering

Words nearby wondering

Definition for wondering (2 of 2)

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Origin of wonder

SYNONYMS FOR wonder

OTHER WORDS FROM wonder

Words related to wondering

Example sentences from the Web for wondering

British Dictionary definitions for wondering (1 of 2)

noun

verb (when tr, may take a clause as object)

Derived forms of wonder

Word Origin for wonder

British Dictionary definitions for wondering (2 of 2)

noun

Idioms and Phrases with wondering