wonder
[verb]
Synonyms:
- think, conjecture, meditate, ponder, puzzle, query, question, speculate
- be amazed, be astonished, gape, marvel, stare
[noun]
Synonyms:
- phenomenon, curiosity, marvel, miracle, prodigy, rarity, sight, spectacle
- amazement, admiration, astonishment, awe, bewilderment, fascination, surprise, wonderment

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Contrasted words: disinterest, incuriosity, indifference, unconcern, dispassion, impassivity, casualness, offhandedness, boredom, ennui
Related Idioms: one for the book(s), something to shout (or write home) about
Related Words: curiosity, cynosure, gazingstock, spectacle, awe, fear, reverence, bewilderment, perplexity, puzzlement, astonishment, marvel, shock, assailability, vulnerability

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

Wonder, Ste‧vie /ˈstiːvi/
(1950–) a US soul singer, songwriter, and piano player who was born blind. He started making records with the Motown record company when he was 12, and became one of the most successful and influential popular musicians in the world. His songs include Superstition (1972) and I Just Called To Say I Love You (1984). His real name is Steveland Morris.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

I. won‧der¹ S1 W2 /ˈwʌndə $ -ər/ verb [intransitive and transitive]
[Word Family: adjective: wonderful, wonder, wondrous; noun: wonder, wonderment; verb: wonder; adverb: wonderfully]

1. to think about something that you are not sure about and try to guess what is true, what will happen etc
wonder who/what/how etc
I wonder how James is getting on.
What are they going to do now, I wonder?
wonder if/whether
I wonder if I’ll recognize Philip after all these years.
He’s been leaving work early a lot – it makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

2. I wonder if/whether spoken used to ask politely for something Synonym : may I:
I wonder if I might have a drink?

3. I was wondering if/whether
a) spoken used to ask someone politely to help you:
I was wondering if I could borrow your car?
b) used to ask someone politely if they would like to do something:
I was wondering if you’d like to come to dinner.

4. to feel surprised and unable to believe something
wonder about/at
Sometimes I wonder about his behaviour.
wonder how
I wonder how he dares to show his face!
I don’t wonder British English (=I am not surprised)
I don’t wonder you’re tired.
I shouldn’t wonder British English (=I would not be surprised about something)
He’ll come back soon enough, I shouldn’t wonder.

5. to doubt or question whether something is true:
‘Is she serious?’ ‘I wonder.’
wonder if/whether
Sometimes I wonder if he’s got any sense at all!

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. wonder² noun
[Word Family: adjective: wonderful, wonder, wondrous; noun: wonder, wonderment; verb: wonder; adverb: wonderfully]
[Language: Old English; Origin: wundor]

1. ADMIRATION
a) [uncountable] a feeling of surprise and admiration for something very beautiful or new to you Synonym : awe:
The sight of the Taj Mahal filled us with wonder.
b) [countable] something that makes you feel surprise and admiration:
technological wonders
the Seven Wonders of the World

2. (it’s) no/small/little wonder (that) especially spoken used to say that you are not surprised by something:
No wonder you’ve got a headache, the amount you drank last night.

3. SURPRISING it’s a wonder (that) especially spoken used to say that something is very surprising:
It’s a wonder no one got hurt.

4. do/work wonders to be very effective in solving a problem

5. wonders will never cease spoken used humorously to show you are surprised and pleased about something

6. CLEVER PERSON [singular] British English someone who is good at doing difficult things
⇒ nine days wonder at nine(3)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. wonder³ adjective [only before noun]
[Word Family: adjective: wonderful, wonder, wondrous; noun: wonder, wonderment; verb: wonder; adverb: wonderfully]
very good and effective:
a new wonder drug

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

wonder
noun
I. feeling of surprise/admiration
ADJ. great | childlike, wide-eyed
VERB + WONDER feel | express There aren't any words to express properly all the wonder that I feel.
gaze in, stare in She gazed down in wonder at the city spread below her.
be filled with, be full of The children's faces were full of wonder as they gazed up at the Christmas tree.
WONDER + NOUN cure, drug
PREP. in ~ Neville shook his head in wonder at it all
with ~ She held her breath with wonder and delight.
~ at
PHRASES a feeling/sense of wonder

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

wonder
II. amazing thing/person
ADJ. natural Iceland is full hot springs, beautifully coloured rocks, and other natural wonders.
scientific | constant, perpetual It was a constant wonder to me that my father didn't die of exhaustion.
nine days, seven-day She was determined to prove she was no seven-day wonder whose promise would remain unfulfilled.
boy (humorous) (also wonder boy) the new boy wonder of French football
one-hit (humorous) The band aren't the one-hit wonders some had feared: their second album contains some great rap music.
PHRASES do/work wonders (for sb/sth) The change of diet has done wonders for my skin. A good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast worked wonders.
the wonders of modern science/technology Thanks to the wonders of modern science, many common diseases will soon be things of the past.
the wonders of the world The palace has been described as the eighth wonder of the world.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

wonder
verb
ADV. hazily, idly, vaguely I wondered vaguely whether Robert could be the murderer.
briefly, fleetingly | apprehensively, uneasily I wondered uneasily if anything had happened to the children.
bleakly, despairingly | irritably | aloud ‘Where's Natasha?’ she wondered aloud.
just ‘Why do you ask?’ ‘I just wondered.’
often, sometimes I sometimes wonder who's crazier, him or me.
VERB + WONDER begin to I was just beginning to wonder where you were.
cannot/could not help but, can only I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking.
make sb His obvious hunger made her wonder how long he had been up and about.
PREP. about We'd wondered about you as a possible team member.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

wonder
ˈwʌndə
See: no wonder also small wonder

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲