astonishing
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of astonishing
Explanation
Something astonishing is astounding, staggering, stupefying, amazing, or incredible. It's not something you see every day. This is a pretty strong word. A dog shaking hands is not astonishing, but a dog calling 911 for its owner definitely is. Astonishing things are amazing; they blow your mind. When people first walked on the moon, that was astonishing. Miracles are astonishing. If you say, "Holy cow! I can't believe what I'm seeing," you're probably seeing something astonishing.
Vocabulary lists containing astonishing
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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Nothing But the Truth
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Copper Sun
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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.
In this Money Talks: Author and financial journalist Brendan Greeley tells Elizabeth Spiers about his new book, The Almighty Dollar—and the astonishing power this currency held long before the founding of the United States.
From Slate • Jun. 9, 2026
At the start of the 20th century, Southern California was home to an astonishing number of military academies designed to turn boys into officers and gentlemen.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026
Robinson had been ignored since 2024, including on the dismal tour of Australia, but showed England what they have been missing on an astonishing day when 16 wickets fell at Lord's.
From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026
That gives Continental defense contractors a ringside seat to the astonishing innovation that has enabled Ukraine to survive.
From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026
In September 1832, exploring the gray cliffs and low-lying clay bays near Punta Alta, he discovered an astonishing natural cemetery, with fossilized bones of enormous extinct mammals splayed out before him.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
