/ ˈwʌndə(r); NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
wonder (about sth) to think about sth and try to decide what is true, what will happen, what you should do, etc. :
[ v wh- ]
I wonder who she is.
I was just beginning to wonder where you were.
[ v ]
'Why do you want to know?' 'No particular reason. I was just wondering.'
We were wondering about next April for the wedding.
[ v speech ]
'What should I do now?' she wondered.
2.
[ v wh- ] used as a polite way of asking a question or asking sb to do sth :
I wonder if you can help me.
I was wondering whether you'd like to come to a party.
3.
wonder (at sth) to be very surprised by sth :
[ v ]
She wondered at her own stupidity.
( BrE , informal )
He's gone and left us to do all the work, I shouldn't wonder (= I wouldn't be surprised if he had) .
[ v ( that )]
I wonder (that) he didn't hurt himself jumping over that wall.
I don't wonder you're tired. You've had a busy day.
■ noun
1.
[ U ] a feeling of surprise and admiration that you have when you see or experience sth beautiful, unusual or unexpected
SYN awe :
He retained a childlike sense of wonder.
She gazed down in wonder at the city spread below her.
2.
[ C ] something that fills you with surprise and admiration
SYN marvel :
The Grand Canyon is one of the natural wonders of the world.
the wonders of modern technology
That's the wonder of poetry—you're always discovering something new.
the Seven Wonders of the World (= the seven most impressive structures of the ancient world)
3.
[ sing. ] ( informal ) a person who is very clever at doing sth; a person or thing that seems very good or effective :
Geoff, you're a wonder! I would never have thought of doing that.
Have you seen the boy wonder play yet?
a new wonder drug
•
IDIOMS
- do wonders (for sb/sth)
- (it's) no / little / small wonder (that) ...
- it's a wonder (that) ...
- wonders will never cease
- work wonders
—more at chinless , nine
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English wundor (noun), wundrian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wonder and German Wunder , of unknown ultimate origin.