to surprise

Examples

• All

• "Just what are you so angry about?" The question surprised him, caught him off guard.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Fly over to her house and surprise her with her dream car.

• And you continue to surprise me with your growth, man.

• And every time they talk, they surprise me in beautiful ways.

  Stanford

• Why is it necessary for you to surprise me at all?

  Sleuth (1972)

• Shh, I want to surprise him.

  Jack Be Nimble (2022)

• When you surprise yourself, I say celebrate the moment.

  I Can't Breathe (God Forgive Them) (2022)

• On reaching home, the man was surprised to find that his wife had indeed given birth.

  Academic text (1999)

• Let's honor Gina and surprise her with a big thank you.

• I plan to surprise my friend with a birthday party she doesn't expect.

Synonyms

S

to shock

vsto surprise

208 2.1

To cause someone to feel sudden surprise and distress

is more neutral, causing unexpectedness without distress

A

to amaze

vsto surprise

104 1.0

To surprise someone very much

is milder and describes plain unexpectedness

B

to blindside

vsto surprise

36 6.2

To surprise someone without warning so they feel shocked or upset

is general unexpectedness, not necessarily unfair or harmful

T

to take aback

vsto surprise

33 4.2

To surprise someone so much that they do not know what to say

is generally unexpected but not always causing shock

B

to blow your mind

vsto surprise

• Informal

27 6.2

To surprise someone a lot and make them feel excited

is less extreme and often marks ordinary unexpectedness

A

to astound

vsto surprise

19 4.2

To surprise someone very much and make them feel amazed

is gentler, meaning ordinary unexpected occurrence

A

to astonish

vsto surprise

18 3.5

To surprise someone very much

is less intense and more general in effect

T

to throw a curve

vsto surprise

• Informal

6 8.4

To surprise or confuse someone by doing something they did not expect

is plain unexpectedness rather than aiming to confuse

S

to stagger

vsto surprise

4 3.8

Surprise someone very much

is milder, meaning a simple unexpected occurrence rather than deep shock

F

to flabbergast

vsto surprise

2 7.4

To surprise someone very much

is more neutral and less exaggerated in tone

M

to make someone's jaw drop

vsto surprise

• Informal

1 4.4

To surprise someone very much

is about simple unexpectedness, not dramatic visible reaction

C

to catch off guard

vsto surprise

1 4.0

To surprise someone so they are not ready to react

is broader and not focused on lack of readiness

S

to shock the hell out of someone

vsto surprise

• Informal

8.1

To surprise someone suddenly and very strongly

is milder and avoids extreme sudden emotional reactions

Antonyms

P

to prepare

∞ 1.0

Make something ready for use or an event

A

to anticipate

36 3.6

To feel excited or nervous about something that will happen

Idioms

W

what a surprise

80 2.6

Words people say when they are surprised to see something

Phrasal Verbs

B

to blow the surprise

• Informal

2 6.5

Tell a secret and spoil a planned surprise

P

to pucker in surprise

6.5

To pull your lips together because you are surprised

Compounds

E

element of surprise

• Informal

31 3.8

A sudden unexpected thing that catches people off guard

S

surprise attack

18 3.5

A sudden action that begins without warning to catch people not ready

S

surprise birthday event

1 1.9

A secret party people plan so the birthday person does not know

B

bleep of surprise

8.5

A short sharp sound someone makes to show surprise

C

chocolate-box surprise

6.1

An unexpected pleasant gift or event that feels like a small box of chocolates

How Surprising

to shock

208 2.1

to stun

38 3.0

to amaze

104 1.0

to astonish

18 3.5

to surprise

712 1.0

to startle

75 3.7

Surface Forms

Etymology