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Glite Dictionary
to astound

to astound

41 4.2
To surprise someone very much and make them feel amazed
  • verb
  • /əˈstaʊnd/
translation icon : asombrar
  • With a boldness that astounded me, I reached out and took the vial from his hand.

The world still astounds you each time you look at a star.

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Examples

  • And when she helped him compile a list, he was astounded at its richness.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • The knowledge humans have today of our solar system would astound Galileo or Kepler.

    Academic text (1990)

  • Getting ready to astound the world.

    This Island Earth (1955)

  • The world still astounds you each time you look at a star.

    Late Night with Seth Meyers

  • Take your fill, let the spectacle astound you!

    The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

  • Prepare yourself to be astounded by their creativity and perhaps pick up a few tips in the process.

    Academic text (2011)

  • You'll be astounded by what you find behind the curtain.

    Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

  • He's written papers on new propulsion systems that have astounded the scientific world.

    Beyond the Time Barrier (1960)

  • The couple was astounded at the way the Palms reacted to their courtship.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • The magician's final trick will astound the entire audience.

Synonyms

to amaze
vsto astound
294 1.0

To surprise someone very much

is nearly the same but often feels a touch less formal
to shock
vsto astound
202 2.1

To cause someone to feel sudden surprise and distress

differs by being more about distress and disbelief than amazement
to blow your mind
vsto astound
  • Informal
50 6.2

To surprise someone a lot and make them feel excited

is close but leans more toward excitement than calm wonder
to take aback
vsto astound
39 4.2

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

is similar but emphasizes wonder and positive amazement rather than shock
to take one's breath away
vsto astound
  • Informal
33 4.1

Make someone feel very surprised and unable to speak

is the same idea but often describes awe that silences people
to awe
vsto astound
24 4.1

To fill someone with a feeling of respect and wonder, sometimes with fear, often caused by something impressive or beautiful

is similar but focuses more on surprise and shock rather than reverence
to astonish
vsto astound
13 3.5

To surprise someone very much

has identical meaning but is slightly more forceful
to flabbergast
vsto astound
8 7.4

To surprise someone very much

is similar but can be even more shocking or informal
to leave in awe
vsto astound
1 4.4

To make someone feel very amazed and full of admiration

is similar but stresses admiration and respect along with wonder
to make someone's jaw drop
vsto astound
  • Informal
4.4

To surprise someone very much

is similar but focuses more on feeling than on the visible reaction

Antonyms

to bore
15 1.4

To make someone feel tired or not interested by being dull when you speak

How Surprising

to dumbfound
17 7.0
to astound
41 4.2
to amaze
294 1.0
to astonish
13 3.5
to surprise
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

astound infinitive
astounding present participle
astounds third person singular
astounded past
astounded past participle

Etymology

Astound comes from an old word estoner and the Latin tonare, which meant 'to thunder' and 'to stun'. So to astound someone is like hitting them with a sudden, loud surprise, which is why it means to shock or amaze them.