wonder

A2 Topic:Actions & Processes

Also spelled wonderin

US /ˈwʌndɚ/ UK /ˈwʌndə/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like wander /ʌ/ vs /ɑ/

Freq #692

Meanings

1

verb
To want to know something; to ask yourself about it.

I wonder who left this note on my desk.
2

noun
A feeling of surprise and admiration at something beautiful or amazing.

The children stared at the fireworks in wonder.
3

noun
Something that causes amazement or admiration.

The pyramids are one of the great wonders of the world.
4

verb
To feel doubt or curiosity about something.

She wondered whether she had made the right choice.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to want to know something;... enquire inquire

3 noun · something that causes... marvel

4 verb · to feel doubt or curiosity... ponder question

Word family

Forms wonderedwonderingwonderinglywonders

Derived forms bewonderforwonderunwonderwonder-bearingwonder-beastwonder-glowwonder-shipwonder-strikingwonderbeastwonderberrywonderbirdwonderbook

Appears in

Phrases (4)

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childlike wonder
a quality of open, enthusiastic amazement of the kind a young child shows

Adjective + noun
natural wonder
an extraordinary, awe-inspiring phenomenon of the natural world

Adjective + noun
fill with wonder
to cause someone to feel deep amazement

Verb + noun
inspire wonder
to cause a feeling of admiration and amazement in someone

Verb + noun

Idioms (1)

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work wonders
have an unusually strong and beneficial effect

Proverbs (3)

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Etymology

From Middle English wonder, wunder, from Old English wundor (“wonder, miracle, marvel”), from Proto-West Germanic *wundr, from Proto-Germanic *wundrą. 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, Norwegian and Swedish under (“wonder, miracle”), Icelandic undur (“wonder”). The verb is from Middle English wondren, from Old English wundrian, which is from Proto-Germanic *wundrōną. Cognate with Saterland Frisian wunnerje, West Frisian wûnderje…

*wenh₁- Proto-Indo-European wonder Middle English wundor Old English *wundr Proto-West Germanic *wundrą Proto-Germanic wondren Middle English wundrian Old English *wundrōną Proto-Germanic

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Topics

Actions & Processes

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# wonder

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈwʌndɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈwʌndə/
**Frequency rank:** 692

## Meanings
1. To want to know something; to ask yourself about it.
2. A feeling of surprise and admiration at something beautiful or amazing.
3. Something that causes amazement or admiration.
4. To feel doubt or curiosity about something.

## Examples
- I wonder who left this note on my desk.
- The children stared at the fireworks in wonder.
- The pyramids are one of the great wonders of the world.
- She wondered whether she had made the right choice.

## Derived Forms
- bewonder
- forwonder
- unwonder
- wonder-bearing
- wonder-beast
- wonder-glow
- wonder-ship
- wonder-striking
- wonderbeast
- wonderberry
- wonderbird
- wonderbook

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *wenh₁-
- Root: wonder
- Root: wundor
- Root: *wundr
- Root: *wundrą
- Root: wondren
- Root: wundrian
- Root: *wundrōną

## Etymology
From Middle English wonder, wunder, from Old English wundor (“wonder, miracle, marvel”), from Proto-West Germanic *wundr, from Proto-Germanic *wundrą. 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, Norwegian and Swedish under (“wonder, miracle”), Icelandic undur (“wonder”). The verb is from Middle English wondren, from Old English wundrian, which is from Proto-Germanic *wundrōną. Cognate with Saterland Frisian wunnerje, West Frisian wûnderje…

## AI Etymology
Wonder is from Middle English wonder, wunder, from Old English wundor (“wonder, miracle, marvel”), from Proto-West Germanic *wundr, from Proto-Germanic *wundrą. 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, Norwegian and Swedish under (“wonder, miracle”), Icelandic undur (“wonder”). The verb is from Middle English wondren, from Old English wundrian, which is from Proto-Germanic *wundrōną. Important historical forms include Proto-Indo-European *wenh₁-, Middle English wonder, Old English wundor, Proto-West Germanic *wundr, Proto-Germanic *wundrą, Middle English wondren, and Old English wundrian.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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wonder

Meanings

Verb forms

Thesaurus

Appears in

Phrases (4)

Idioms (1)

Proverbs (3)

Etymology

Topics

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