astonishment
Americannoun
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overpowering wonder or surprise; amazement.
He looked with astonishment at his friends.
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an object or cause of amazement.
noun
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extreme surprise; amazement
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a cause of amazement
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of astonishment
Explanation
Astonishment is what you feel when you're extremely surprised. If a cat stood up and recited the Preamble to the Constitution, you’d stare in astonishment. Astonishment is the feeling of being blown away and shocked by something. It’s the noun form of astonish, which is a verb meaning, basically “to have your mind blown.” A professional magician aims to create astonishment. A basketball player who hits every three-point shot might make fans feel astonishment. Many people feel astonishment when looking at something like the Grand Canyon. This is a strong word that shouldn't refer to minor surprises. True astonishment is rare.
Vocabulary lists containing astonishment
The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 6
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"The Bet" by Anton Chekhov
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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.
Yet there was hardly astonishment from those at Liverpool when Salah had his outburst at Leeds in December, when a place on the bench for a third successive game hurt him.
From BBC • May 23, 2026
"I had seen the fjord and notable mountain features in the satellite images, but being there in person filled me with astonishment at what had happened."
From Science Daily • Feb. 26, 2026
The remarks were met with astonishment, in particular from European allies, several of which suffered numerous casualties during the war which lasted between 2001 and 2021.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026
When Anthony Bourdain traveled to Iran in 2014, he admitted his astonishment.
From Salon • Jan. 22, 2026
To Mia’s astonishment, when she pried the house key loose from the key ring and handed it back, Mrs. Delaney pulled her into an uncharacteristic hug.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
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.
