as in to surprise
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
she was bowled over to learn that she had a long-lost sister
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bowl over
After the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills crew — which features Hamlin’s wife Lisa Rinna, 62, — were bowled over by his spaghetti bolognese, an executive approached Hamlin about hosting his own cooking show.
—
Logan Holland, People.com, 14 July 2025
Gauguin initially wanted to go to Tonkin—at the 1889 World’s Fair, he had been bowled over by an exhibit of Khmer art—but his application for a colonial job there was rejected.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
Pour water to a depth of 1 1/2 to 2 inches in a small saucepan, and place a small stainless steel bowl over saucepan to make a double boiler, making sure water does not touch bottom of bowl.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 24 June 2025
After the Pacers also took Game 2, the Knicks turned the tables in Game 3 with a similar late fourth-quarter rally from a double-digit deficit that bowled over Indiana 106-100.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bowl over
Logan Holland, People.com, 14 July 2025
Gauguin initially wanted to go to Tonkin—at the 1889 World’s Fair, he had been bowled over by an exhibit of Khmer art—but his application for a colonial job there was rejected.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
Pour water to a depth of 1 1/2 to 2 inches in a small saucepan, and place a small stainless steel bowl over saucepan to make a double boiler, making sure water does not touch bottom of bowl.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 24 June 2025
After the Pacers also took Game 2, the Knicks turned the tables in Game 3 with a similar late fourth-quarter rally from a double-digit deficit that bowled over Indiana 106-100.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bowl over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowl over
Verb
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Reeve wasn’t surprised by Phoenix’s effort coming out of the halftime locker room.—
Ben Pickman,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
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Respecting the medium often surprises me with the most rewarding outcomes.—
Caterina De Biasio,
Vogue,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Andrew Harnik | Getty Images Shares of Oracle surged 36% in yesterday’s session after the company’s cloud growth estimates amazed Wall Street.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
11 Sep. 2025
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What amazes me is how the same film sparks such different conversations, depending on the room.—
Eitan Weiss,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Continue reading … GRACE OVER HATE – Erika Kirk's powerful act of forgiveness toward husband's killer stuns faith leaders.—
,
FOXNews.com,
24 Sep. 2025
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Getting stunned in a corner by a few enemies or having the camera get stuck in an awkward viewpoint were minor blemishes across my playtime.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Thai staff were reportedly shocked by the industrial scale of the encounters.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
23 Sep. 2025
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So the trajectory hasn’t shocked me.—
Eric Markowitz,
Big Think,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Sleep may be disturbed by a pet's movements, and dogs may bite if startled.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
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The record-scratch startle that jump-starts the dramatic arc occurs when Eleanor (Squibb) is trying to figure out what to do with herself at a Manhattan Jewish community center after recently relocating from Florida.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Society has been rocked in the past seven days by comedy and politics, by debates about authoritarianism and free speech, and by a reckoning about the great divide across the United States.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
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At the stick in the cockpit’s left seat is Randy Oates, a Helitack pilot rocking a ZZ Top beard in a flight helmet and Nomex coveralls.—
Ted Katauskas,
Outside,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Hollywood leaders were astonished; free speech groups were appalled; and the episode triggered a multi-day news cycle about free speech and corporate capitulation to political pressure.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
24 Sep. 2025
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His work astonishes and moves people far beyond the fashion bubble to this day.—
WWD Staff,
Footwear News,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bowl over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowl%20over. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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