surprisingly

adverb

sur·​pris·​ing·​ly sər-ˈprī-ziŋ-lē 

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

Dark paint colors can feel surprisingly cozy and create a cocoon-like atmosphere in north-facing rooms. —Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2026

The lead was heavy but surprisingly soft and malleable. —CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026

While bold at first glance, electric blue is surprisingly wearable, acting almost like a modern neutral when paired with black, white, gray, navy, or denim. —Gabrielle Porcaro, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026

With two bedrooms and two baths, the home is surprisingly expansive, boasting just under 2,400 square feet across its clever layout. —Miriam Schwartz, Boston Herald, 9 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for surprisingly

• tantalizingly
• unsurprisingly
• uncompromisingly

Kids Definition

surprisingly

adverb

sur·​pris·​ing·​ly -lē 

1

: in a surprising manner : to a surprising degree

a surprisingly fast runner

2

: it is surprising that

surprisingly, no one disagreed