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- DictionarySur·prise/sə(r)ˈprīz/
noun
- 1. an unexpected or astonishing event, fact, or thing: "the announcement was a complete surprise"
- 2. denoting a class of complex methods of change-ringing: "surprise major"
verb
- 1. (of something unexpected) cause (someone) to feel mild astonishment or shock: "I was surprised at his statement"
Learn the meaning, synonyms, examples, and history of the word surprise, which can be a noun or a verb. Find out how to use surprise in a sentence and how it differs from related words like astonish, astound, and flabbergast.
Find 87 similar words for surprise, a noun or verb meaning something unexpected or impressive. Learn how to use different synonyms of surprise in different contexts and phrases.
- How does the verb 'surprise' contrast with its synonyms?Some common synonyms of surprise are amaze, astonish, astound, and flabbergast. While all these words mean "to impress forcibly through unexpectedn...
- Where would 'amaze' be a reasonable alternative to 'surprise'?The meanings of amaze and surprise largely overlap; however, amaze suggests an effect of bewilderment. // amazed by the immense size of the place
- When is it sensible to use 'astonish' instead of 'surprise'?While the synonyms astonish and surprise are close in meaning, astonish implies surprising so greatly as to seem incredible. // a discovery that as...
- When is 'astound' a more appropriate choice than 'surprise'?The words astound and surprise are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, astound stresses the shock of astonishment. // too astounded to...
- When might 'flabbergast' be a better fit than 'surprise'?In some situations, the words flabbergast and surprise are roughly equivalent. However, flabbergast may suggest thorough astonishment and bewilderm...
Surprise definition: to strike or occur to with a sudden feeling of wonder or astonishment, as through unexpectedness. See examples of SURPRISE used in a sentence.
Learn the meaning of surprise as a noun, adjective, and verb, with synonyms, antonyms, and idioms. See how to use surprise in sentences from various sources and contexts.
Learn the meaning of surprise as a noun, adjective, and verb, with examples of usage and synonyms. Find out how to use surprise in common expressions and idioms, such as surprise, surprise, surprise, and surprise attack.
Learn the meaning of surprise as a noun and a verb, with examples of how to use it in different contexts. Find out how to say surprise in other languages with the translator tool.
surprise: 1 v come upon or take unawares “She surprised the couple” “He surprised an interesting scene” Types: blindside catch unawares, especially with harmful consequences Type of: act , move perform an action, or work out or perform (an action) v attack by storm; attack suddenly Synonyms: storm Type of: assail , attack launch an attack or ...
