amaze
Americanverb (used with object)
-
amazes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
amazed,
past participle, past
-
amazing
present participle
-
to overwhelm with surprise or sudden wonder; astonish greatly.
It will never cease to amaze me how fast children grow.
She was amazed that someone could be serious about something so incredibly absurd.
- Synonyms:
- flabbergast, stun, dumbfound, astound
-
Obsolete. to bewilder; perplex.
verb (used without object)
-
amazes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
amazed,
past participle, past
-
amazing
present participle
noun
verb
-
to fill with incredulity or surprise; astonish
-
an obsolete word for bewilder
noun
Synonym Usage
See surprise.
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
amazesimple
-
amazessimple
-
have amazedperfect
-
has amazedperfect
-
am amazingprogressive
-
are amazingprogressive
-
is amazingprogressive
-
have been amazingperfect progressive
-
has been amazingperfect progressive
Past
-
amazedsimple
-
had amazedperfect
-
was amazingprogressive
-
were amazingprogressive
-
had been amazingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of amaze
First recorded before 1000; from Middle English amasen, from Old English āmasian “to confuse, stun, astonish,” equivalent to a- 3, + unattested *masian “to confuse”; cf. maze ( def. )
Explanation
Things that amaze fill you with confusion and mystery — or they just impress you. Either way, amazing things make an impact. There are two main meanings to amaze. The first has to do with causing a feeling of puzzlement or awe. An impressive magician amazes people with tricks. Anything impressive can also amaze. A great basketball player might amaze you with a rim-rattling dunk or by hitting dozens of free throws in a row. Things that amaze also astound, astonish, and impress. Amazing things are also awesome: in the old of sense "causing awe" and the recent sense of "really cool."
Vocabulary lists containing amaze
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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
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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.
See Examples For:
“I believe that stories have an important role to play in the formation of human beings,” Miyazaki once said, “that they can stimulate, amaze and inspire their listeners.”
From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2026
“These fish continue to amaze me,” said Kyle Evans, environmental program manager for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, who had seen the damage to the creek.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026
The seemingly limitless proliferation of cases in which lawyers have been caught letting fictitious AI-generated legal citations contaminate their briefs continues to amaze.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 27, 2026
Similarly, the audience is left to wonder why this career coder has driving skills that would amaze James Bond.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2025
It never ceases to amaze me how quickly he gets around the sectors.
From "Legend" by Marie Lu
But it is not so much its size that amazes, but its uncanny shape.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
"One thing that always amazes me is that this tiny little fly does a hell of a lot; even our best AI agents and robots can't do everything that a fly does," Yang said.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 10, 2026
It amazes me that today's set-piece coach is lauded for goals scored, yet never criticised for set-play goals conceded by his team.
From BBC ● Nov. 23, 2025
That exploration of doubt in the Christ figure deeply moves me, and the reconstruction of the time amazes me still.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 26, 2024
“It still amazes me that no one around here has ever seen it,” Denna said.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
"Sometimes you've just got to look through the leaf litter a bit, and you'd be amazed at the colours and different shapes and sizes of mushrooms you can find when you do look," he said.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
It also demonstrated that while Maye amazed the football world last season, he’s still just 24 years old and prone to growing pains.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
I am constantly amazed by the number of people in our country who do not seem to understand the basics of capitalism.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026
"We were amazed to find that C. theotonicus grouped with extant placental mammals, being clearly distinct from other amniotes like reptiles or birds," said Gaetano.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026
I’m so amazed at how close we are to it I forget to be mad.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
Of particular note was his amazing imitation of Patti Smith’s vocal part in “E-bow The Letter,” later in the set.
From Salon ● Oct. 7, 2026
“I certainly remember that after a couple hours of recording, I would just absolutely crash. It’s amazing to me today how much energy I poured into that microphone.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
He may not feel comfortable saying this, but I’m feeling comfortable saying it’s one of the most amazing streaks, not only in the history of the Dodgers, but in the history of sports.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
Gemma, from Ballymena in County Antrim, said the expansion is "amazing" because of the difference the treatment made to her recovery.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
No, we just told her we needed a present worthy of our amazing father that also fit our measly budget.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
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.
