surprisingly

adverb

sur·​pris·​ing·​ly sər-ˈprī-ziŋ-lē How to pronounce surprisingly (audio)
sə-
1
: in a surprising manner : to a surprising degree
a surprisingly fast runner
2
: it is surprising that
surprisingly, voter turnout was high

Examples of surprisingly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ending that bond can be surprisingly painful, like a breakup or even a bereavement, says Vasan. Robert Hart, Time, 5 Aug. 2025 The park is surprisingly lovely in the winter, when daytime temperatures average 60 degrees and occasional snow adds to the beauty of the dunes. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2025 Maybe not all of us had a conspiracy-prone school custodian who may offer some surprisingly sage advice in one breath and try to scam you out of $20 in the next. Katie Campione, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025 Like any bra, finding one that fits well and feels good can be surprisingly tricky. Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 4 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for surprisingly

Word History

First Known Use

1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of surprisingly was in 1661

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Cite this Entry

“Surprisingly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surprisingly. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

surprisingly

adverb
sur·​pris·​ing·​ly -lē How to pronounce surprisingly (audio)
1
: in a surprising manner : to a surprising degree
a surprisingly fast runner
2
: it is surprising that
surprisingly, no one disagreed

More from Merriam-Webster on surprisingly

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