wondered

word · lemma: wonder

/ˈwəndɝd/
WUN-durd
/wˈʌndəd/
WUN-duhd

Definition

Past form of 'wonder'. It means thought about something because you wanted to know the answer, or felt curiosity or slight uncertainty about it.

Usage & Nuances

Often followed by 'if', 'whether', 'why', 'what', 'who', or 'how': 'I wondered if...', 'She wondered why...'. It is common for quiet curiosity, polite indirect questions, and personal thoughts. Don't confuse it with 'wandered', which means moved around without a clear direction.

Example Sentences

She wondered if he was okay.

basic

I wondered where my keys were.

basic

We wondered why the store was closed.

basic

I wondered whether it was a good idea to call so late.

natural

For a second, I wondered if I'd missed the meeting.

natural

They wondered how she knew so much about the case.

natural