surprise

noun
UK: /səˈpraɪz/
US: /sərˈpraɪz/

  1. An unexpected or astonishing event, fact, or thing.

    1. The party was a surprise. [ ] [ ]
    2. The sudden announcement was a complete surprise to everyone involved. [ ] [ ]

  2. A feeling of wonder or astonishment caused by something unexpected.

    1. I felt surprise when I saw him. [ ] [ ]
    2. Her unexpected arrival filled me with surprise and joy. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

stun flabbergast wonder amaze astound startle amazement astonishment shock
surprise verb

  1. To cause someone to feel wonder, astonishment, or amazement.

    1. The gift will surprise her. [ ] [ ]
    2. I hope this news won't surprise you too much. [ ] [ ]

  2. To catch someone doing something unexpected or secret.

    1. I will surprise him there. [ ] [ ]
    2. The police surprised the burglars in the middle of the night. [ ] [ ]
surprise adjective

  1. Causing surprise; unexpected or astonishing.

    1. We had a surprise party. [ ] [ ]
    2. The army launched a surprise attack at dawn. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "surprise" in English means: An unexpected or astonishing event, fact, or thing., A feeling of wonder or astonishment caused by something unexpected..

The phonetic transcription of "surprise" is /səˈpraɪz/ in British English and /sərˈpraɪz/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "surprise": stun, flabbergast, wonder, amaze, astound, startle, amazement, astonishment, shock.

Example usage of "surprise": "The party was a surprise.". More examples on the page.