Surprise Definition
sər-prīz
surprised, surprises, surprising
verb
surprised, surprises, surprising
To come upon suddenly or unexpectedly; take unawares.
Webster's New World
To cause to feel wonder or astonishment by being unexpected.
Webster's New World
To attack or capture suddenly and without warning.
Webster's New World
To present (someone) unexpectedly with a gift, etc.
Webster's New World
To cause by some unexpected action to do or say something unintended.
To surprise someone into an admission.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
- unsuspected plot
- unawaited event
- sudden misfortune
- unexpected good fortune
- sudden attack
- blow
- something unexpected
- shock
- wonderment
- astonishment
- catch unaware
- creep up on
- make one's head swim
- make one's hair stand on end
- strike dumb
Antonyms:
noun
surprises
The act of surprising or taking unawares.
Webster's New World
An unexpected seizure or attack.
Webster's New World
The state of being surprised; a feeling aroused by something unusual or unexpected; wonder or astonishment.
Webster's New World
Something that surprises because unexpected, unusual, etc.
Webster's New World
Something not expected.
It was a surprise to find out I owed twice as much as I thought I did.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
- surprisal
- trouvaille
- thunderclap
- deus-ex-machina
- coup de main
- astonishment
- bombshell
- amazement
- unsuspected plot
- unawaited event
- sudden attack
- blow
- something unexpected
- unexpected good fortune
- sudden misfortune
Antonyms:
adjective
Unexpected.
Wiktionary
idiom
take by surprise
- to come upon suddenly or without warning
- to amaze; astound
Webster's New World
Other Word Forms of Surprise
Noun
Singular:
surprise
Plural:
surprisesIdioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Surprise
Origin of Surprise
-
Middle English surprisen to overcome from Old French surprise feminine past participle of surprendre to surprise sur- sur- prendre to take (from Latin prehendere, prēndere to seize ghend- in Indo-European roots)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
-
From Middle English, from Middle French surprise (“an overtake"), from noun use of past participle of Old French surprendre (“to overtake"), from sur- (“over") + prendre (“to take"), from Latin prendere, contracted from prehendere (“to grasp, seize").
From Wiktionary
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