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 verb 1 : to attack unexpectedly; also : to capture by an unexpected attack
2 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>.