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
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
The lads were famously bowled over by an early listen, but the record Wilson poured his time into wasn’t an immediate critical or chart success back at home.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 12 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
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
The lads were famously bowled over by an early listen, but the record Wilson poured his time into wasn’t an immediate critical or chart success back at home.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 12 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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The battle was turbo-charged when Powell surprised markets with a 50 basis point inflation hike in September last year, seen by some as a gift to Trump’s Democratic Party election rival Kamala Harris.—
Billy Bambrough,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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In a move that surprised some, the Republican governor’s proclamation also called on lawmakers to weaken the state’s initiative petition process, a more than a century-old mechanism for direct democracy that allows citizens to put measures on the ballot.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The 90-yard dash along the right sideline one play after Ruvalcaba’s interception amazed his teammates.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
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Having an almost 80-year-old actor at the heart of the film and in almost every scene could be a huge undertaking, but Touzani says Maura’s vitality amazed her.—
Alissa Simon,
Variety,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Instead, the army became bogged down in a grinding war of attrition, and the West was stunned by Moscow’s poor battlefield performance.—
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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When news of the closing of Valerie Chang’s Peruvian restaurant Maty’s was announced in Midtown, Miami diners were stunned.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Broadbelt’s death shocked the community and reignited a countywide conversation about the dual problem of unleashed dogs and overcrowded animal shelters.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
10 Sep. 2025
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Kristen Delano, a spokesperson for Koloma, told the Idaho Statesman in an interview that the discovery shocked scientists, many of whom thought hydrogen molecules were too small to collect underground.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Then the Buckel brothers arrived, intent on doing the same, and Smith was startled.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
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Another Epstein accuser looked up, startled, to see where the deafening sound was coming from.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Over the past 48 hours, Nepal has been rocked by deadly mass protests led by young people who are frustrated over the country's leadership.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
10 Sep. 2025
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The pilots of Delta Flight 56, an Airbus A330, were flying from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam when violent turbulence rocked the plane near Creston, Wyoming.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The success of the event astonished everybody.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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Both Padres baseball leaders were astonished by what the 2010 team had achieved through more than three-quarters of the season.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bowl over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowl%20over. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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