Wonder Definition

wŭndər

wondered, wondering, wonders

noun

wonders

The feeling of surprise, admiration, and awe aroused by something strange, unexpected, incredible, etc.

Gazing in wonder at the comet.

Webster's New World

The quality that arouses such emotion.

American Heritage

A person, thing, or event that causes astonishment and admiration; prodigy; marvel.

Webster's New World

A monumental human creation regarded with awe, especially one of seven monuments of the ancient world that appeared on various lists of late antiquity.

American Heritage

A miraculous or apparently miraculous thing or act; miracle.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
expectation

verb

wondered, wondering, wonders

To be seized or filled with wonder; feel amazement; marvel.

Webster's New World

To have a feeling of awe, astonishment, surprise, or admiration.

We wondered at the ease with which she settled into her new job.

American Heritage

To have curiosity or doubt about; want to know.

I wonder what happened.

Webster's New World

To have curiosity, sometimes mingled with doubt.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

adjective

Remarkable or extraordinary, especially in being beneficial.

Considers quinoa a wonder grain.

American Heritage

idiom

do wonders

To have a beneficial effect:
This tonic will do wonders for you.

American Heritage

for a wonder

As a cause for surprise; surprisingly.

American Heritage

do wonders for

to make a remarkable improvement in

Webster's New World

for a wonder

surprisingly

Webster's New World

no wonder!

now I know why! of course!

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Wonder

Noun

Singular:

wonder

Plural:

wonders

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Wonder

do wonders
for a wonder
do wonders for
for a wonder
no wonder!

Origin of Wonder

From Middle English wonder, wunder, from Old English wundor (“wonder, miracle, marvel, portent, horror; wondrous thing, monster"), from Proto-Germanic *wundrÄ… (“miracle, wonder"), from Proto-Indo-European *wen- (“to wish for, desire, strive for, win, love"). Cognate with Scots wunner (“wonder"), West Frisian wonder, wûnder (“wonder, miracle"), Dutch wonder (“miracle, wonder"), Low German wunner, wunder (“wonder"), German Wunder (“miracle, wonder"), Danish and Swedish under (“wonder, miracle"), Icelandic undur (“wonder"). Possible extra-Germanic cognate include Albanian Ã«ndÃ«rr (“dream, wonder") geg var. andÃ«r, ondÃ«r.

From Wiktionary
The verb is from Old English wundrian, which is from the noun wundor (“wonder, miracle, marvel"), as above.

From Wiktionary
Middle English from Old English wundor

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition