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amazement

American  
[uh-meyz-muhnt] / əˈmeɪz mənt /

noun

  1. overwhelming surprise or astonishment.

  2. Obsolete.

    1. stupefaction; frenzy.

    2. perplexity.

    3. consternation.

amazement British  
/ əˈmeɪzmənt /

noun

  1. incredulity or great astonishment; complete wonder or surprise

  2. obsolete bewilderment or consternation

"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

Etymology

Origin of amazement

First recorded in 1590–1600; amaze + -ment

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.

To her amazement, close to 200 people came with more than 180 cakes devoured.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith snagged a pass with one hand near the sideline, drawing audible amazement from the crowd of 104,168.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 15, 2025

Yet what began as amazement turned to discomfort as he reckoned that, before too long, most of the facility’s humans would be unnecessary.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 28, 2025

The experts recall with amazement and appreciation the level of curiosity and celebrity Thurgood commanded in courtrooms across the Jim Crow South, charming even the bigoted lawyers and judges whose unjust rulings he challenged.

From Salon • Sep. 10, 2025

Then, to Neel’s amazement, he smiled, stood up, and came around his desk.

From "Tiger Boy" by Mitali Perkins

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.