surprise Hear it!

Jump To: synonymsSynonyms · examplesUsage Examples · quotesQuotes · linkLink/Cite
Also found in: idiomsAH Idiom Dictionary
surprise definition

sur·prise (sər prīz′, sə prīz′)

transitive verb surprised -·prised′, surprising -·pris′·ing

  1. to come upon suddenly or unexpectedly; take unawares
  2. to attack or capture suddenly and without warning
    1. to cause to feel wonder or astonishment by being unexpected
    2. to present (someone) unexpectedly with a gift, etc.
    1. to cause by some unexpected action to do or say something unintended to surprise someone into an admission
    2. to bring out or elicit by such means to surprise an admission from someone

Etymology: ME surprysen < OFr surpris, pp. of sorprendre, to surprise, take napping < sur- (see sur-) + prendre, to take (see prize)

noun

  1. Now Rare the act of surprising or taking unawares
  2. an unexpected seizure or attack
  3. the state of being surprised; feeling aroused by something unusual or unexpected; wonder or astonishment
  4. something that surprises because unexpected, unusual, etc.

Related Forms:

surprise Idioms

take by surprise

  1. to come upon suddenly or without warning
  2. to amaze; astound

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms surprise idiom

surprise Synonyms

surprise

n.

  1. A feeling of amazement

    astonishment, wonderment, shock; see wonder 1.

  2. The cause of surprise, sense 1

    something unexpected, blow, sudden attack, unexpected good fortune, sudden misfortune, unawaited event, unsuspected plot.

take by surprise

startle, assault, sneak up on; see attack 1, 2, surprisev. 1, 2.


surprise

v.

  1. To amaze

    astonish, astound, amaze, bewilder, confound, shock, overwhelm, dumbfound, unsettle, stun, electrify, petrify, startle, stupefy, stagger, nonplus, take aback, cause wonder, strike with wonder, strike with awe, dazzle, daze, perplex, stagger one's belief, leave open-mouthed, leave aghast, make all agog, flabbergast*, floor*, bowl over*, jar*, flash upon one*, carry one off his feet*, jolt*, take one's breath away*, strike dumb*, make one's hair stand on end*, make one's head swim*, creep up on*, catch unaware*; see also confuse, frighten 1.

  2. To take unaware

    take by surprise, catch one in the act of, burst in upon, startle, catch off-balance*, catch flat-footed*, catch one napping*, catch asleep*, nab*, pop in on*; see also sense 1.

surprise implies an affecting with wonder because of being unexpected, unusual, etc. I'm surprised at your concern; astonish implies a surprising with something that seems unbelievable to astonish with sleight of hand; amaze suggests an astonishing that causes bewilderment or confusion amazed at the sudden turn of events; astound suggests such a shocking surprise that one is left helpless to act or think I was astounded by the proposal; flabbergast is a colloquial term suggesting an astounding to the point of speechlessness


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

surprise Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • express: Dr. Ohri expressed some surprise at the low number of applications received.

Adjective modifier

  • pleasant: It is always a pleasant surprise to see who turns up.

Modifies a noun

  • announcement: Well, I thought about making a surprise announcement in one of the lectures, and invite the whole of year 2!

Preposition: in

  • store: I developed a feeling that viruses of plants may have some unpleasant surprises in store for us, with possibly serious consequences.
surprise usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

surprise quotes

   The Sound of Surprise.

-Balliett,Whitney

If you go down in the woods today You're sure of a big surprise If you down in the woods today You'd better go in disguise. For every Bear that ever there was Will gather there for certain because, Today's the day theTeddy Bears have their Picnic.

-Bratton,JohnW

Tell all theTruth but tell it slantö Success in Circuit lies Too bright for our infirm Delight TheTruth's superb surprise.

-Dickinson, Emily Elizabeth

surprise quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"surprise." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/surprise>

APA Style

surprise. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/surprise

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment