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
We were completely bowled over, just in total disbelief.
—
Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
Place the butter, molasses, honey, ginger, and water in a large bowl, place the bowl over a pan of simmering water, and whisk until the butter is melted and everything is warm and well combined.
—Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 23 Nov. 2025
Swiss meringues are made whipping egg whites and sugar together with the bowl over boiling water until the sugar is dissolved and then whipped again.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
This Nix lowered his shoulder on one carry and bowled over Jets cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bowl over
Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
Place the butter, molasses, honey, ginger, and water in a large bowl, place the bowl over a pan of simmering water, and whisk until the butter is melted and everything is warm and well combined.
—Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 23 Nov. 2025
Swiss meringues are made whipping egg whites and sugar together with the bowl over boiling water until the sugar is dissolved and then whipped again.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
This Nix lowered his shoulder on one carry and bowled over Jets cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bowl over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowl over
Verb
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Homendy said the helicopter altimeter discrepancy is what surprised her the most in this investigation.—
Sam Sweeney,
ABC News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Samsung has surprised users in recent months with some security fixes for devices even after support has ended.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In one camp Gao Sheng breaks a cultural norm by helping her father and uncles with a big project, amazing her relatives with her physical and mental strength.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
18 Jan. 2026
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An artist who never fails to amaze me.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
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So we were stunned to read about how Sean Harden, chair of the Chicago Board of Education as duly appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, reportedly had launched two internal investigations into how that board’s super-secret business got into the hands of reporters.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
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Others were stunned by individual line items.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The criminal investigation, which Powell announced this month, shocked and infuriated senators, both Republican and Democratic.—
Steve Kopack,
NBC news,
30 Jan. 2026
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As the boy started singing, the crowd was shocked at his talent and began to cheer.—
Jack Irvin,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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When vertebrate animals are startled, neurons in a brainstem region called the locus coeruleus release norepinephrine, a neuromodulator associated with arousal, along fibers that fan out across the brain.—
Ingrid Wickelgren,
Quanta Magazine,
30 Jan. 2026
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The birth of Endeavor startled Hollywood, but Endeavor’s subsequent takeover of powerhouse William Morris shook the town to its core.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Royals lost 106 games in his first season but astonished the baseball world by making the playoffs in 2024.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
5 Jan. 2026
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Researchers studying the carcasses of bats in a cave system were astonished to find evidence that common rats have developed a method of catching and eating bats mid-flight—something previously unknown to science.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
17 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bowl over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowl%20over. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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