Thesaurussurprise
- startle
- amaze
- stun
- astonish
- take somebody aback
- astound
- surprise to give someone the feeling that you get when something happens that you do not expect or do not understand, or something that you do expect does not happen; to make someone feel surprised:The outcome didn't surprise me at all.
- startle to surprise someone suddenly in a way that slightly shocks or frightens them:Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. The explosion startled the horse.
- amaze to surprise someone very much:The size of the Grand Canyon amazed us all.
- stun (somewhat informal) to surprise or shock someone so much that they cannot think clearly or speak:He stunned us with his announcement.
- astonish to surprise someone very much:The news astonished everyone.
- take somebody aback [usually passive] (especially of something negative) to surprise or shock someone:We were taken aback by her hostile reaction.
- astound to surprise or shock someone very much:His arrogance astounded her.
- It surprises somebody/startles somebody/amazes somebody/stuns somebody/astonishes somebody/takes somebody aback/astounds somebody
- to be surprised/startled/amazed/stunned/astonished/astounded that…
- to surprise/amaze somebody what/how…
- It surprises/startles/amazes/stuns/astonishes/astounds somebody >to know/find/learn/see/hear that…>
- to be surprised/startled/stunned into (doing) something
to be shocked or surprised by someone or something She was completely taken aback by his anger.
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
Check pronunciation: aback