Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

wonder

1 verb
     
won‧der1 S1 W2 [intransitive and transitive]
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 [= may I]:
I wonder if I might have a drink?
3

I was wondering if/whether

a) spoken used to politely ask someone 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!
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary