Main Entry:

²surprise

Variant(s):

also surprize

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

sur·prised also sur·prized; sur·pris·ing also sur·priz·ing

Date:

15th century

transitive verb1: to attack unexpectedly ; also : to capture by an unexpected attack2 a: to take unawares <police surprised the burglars in the store> b: to detect or elicit by a taking unawares <sometimes surprised a tragic shadow in her eyes — Willa Cather>3: to strike with wonder or amazement especially because unexpected <his conduct surprised me>intransitive verb: to cause astonishment or surprise <her success didn't surprise>

— sur·pris·er noun

synonyms surprise, astonish, astound, amaze, flabbergast mean to impress forcibly through unexpectedness. surprise stresses causing an effect through being unexpected but not necessarily unusual or novel <surprised to find them at home>. astonish implies surprising so greatly as to seem incredible <a discovery that astonished the world>. astound stresses the shock of astonishment <too astounded to respond>. amaze suggests an effect of bewilderment <amazed by the immense size of the place>. flabbergast may suggest thorough astonishment and bewilderment or dismay <flabbergasted by his angry refusal>.