Synonyms

astonish

American

[uh-ston-ish] / əˈstɒn ɪʃ /

verb (used with object)

to fill with sudden and overpowering surprise or wonder; amaze.

Her easy humor and keen intellect astonished me.

Synonyms:

shock, startle, astound

astonish British

/ əˈstɒnɪʃ /

verb

(tr) to fill with amazement; surprise greatly

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See surprise.

Other Word Forms

astonisher noun
superastonish verb

Etymology

Origin of astonish

First recorded in 1525–35; Middle English astonyen, astonen, probably from unattested dialectal Old French astoner, Old French estoner, from unattested Vulgar Latin extonāre, for Latin attonāre “to strike with lightning,” equivalent to ex- ex- ¹, at- at- + tonāre “to thunder”; extended by -ish ², perhaps reflecting unattested Anglo-French astonir, from dialectal Old French; thunder

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

From the astonishing to the emotional to the downright bizarre, the Olympic figure skating men's short program on Tuesday night had it all.

From BBC

It also has been advancing with astonishing speed since Artemis left the drawing board.

From The Wall Street Journal

When broken down into scientific numbers, Malinin's ability becomes truly astonishing.

From BBC

At the smallest scales, physical processes unfold at astonishing speeds.

From Science Daily

Grandma had been astonished when none of the Palmers knew anything about an earthquake.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023