Definition of surprising
: of a nature that excites surprise
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Examples of surprising in a Sentence
It's not surprising that he doesn't want to go.
The changes to the campus were surprising.
He shows a surprising lack of concern for others.
A surprising number of people were laid off at the factory.
Recent Examples of surprising from the Web
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The end result is a personalized plan, with a surprising amount of latitude, that gradually rewires your brain toward improved health and performance.
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There hasn't been much movement on that end of operations around the league, either, which is surprising because so many teams lack salary-cap space.
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Most green drinks don’t contain added salt, but some vegetables, such as beets and celery, have a surprising amount of naturally occurring sodium.
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By Elaina Zachos PUBLISHED June 25, 2018 Humans and birds have a surprising amount in common.
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Given the Gaines family's love of shiplap, a nautical theme shouldn't have been surprising.
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Your choice to bypass us to solicit an invitation from my in-laws is … surprising.
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Some of these associations are surprising, and some are not, says John Hardy, chair of molecular biology of neurological disease at the University College London Institute of Neurology, who was not involved with the study.
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There’s a surprising amount of opportunity to bring the same amount of art and craft and thoughtfulness to the activities of being a father as there is to writing.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'surprising.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of surprising
1614
surprising Synonyms
Synonyms
amazing, astonishing, astounding, dumbfounding (also dumfounding), eye-opening, flabbergasting, jarring, jaw-dropping, jolting, shocking, startling, stunning, stupefying;
Antonyms
Near Antonyms
common, customary, normal, ordinary, typical, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual;
Related Words
unannounced, unanticipated, unexpected, unforeseen;
awesome, awful, breathtaking, fabulous, heart-stopping, marvelous (or marvellous), miraculous, portentous, prodigious, staggering, stupendous, sublime, wonderful, wondrous;
befuddling, bewildering, confounding, confusing, discomfiting, disconcerting, dismaying, flustering, muddling, nonplussing (also nonplusing), perplexing, upsetting;
incomprehensible, inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable, unimaginable, unlikely, unthinkable;
SURPRISING Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of surprising for English Language Learners
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: unexpected or unusual : causing surprise
SURPRISING Defined for Kids
surprising
Definition of surprising for Students
: causing astonishment : unexpected
- Although some things were always the same with Abuelita … others were surprising …
- —Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising
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surprisingly
adverb- He is a surprisingly good singer.
Learn More about surprising
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for surprising Spanish Central: Translation of surprising Nglish: Translation of surprising for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of surprising for Arabic speakers
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