Dictionary.com

astonish

[ uh-ston-ish ]
/ əˈstɒn ÉȘʃ /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for: astonish / astonished / astonishes / astonishing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
to fill with sudden and overpowering surprise or wonder; amaze: Her easy humor and keen intellect astonished me.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as


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 -ish2, perhaps reflecting unattested Anglo-French astonir, from dialectal Old French; see thunder

synonym study for astonish

See surprise.

OTHER WORDS FROM astonish

as·ton·ish·er, nounsu·per·as·ton·ish, verb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use astonish in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for astonish

astonish
/ (əˈstɒnÉȘʃ) /

verb
(tr) to fill with amazement; surprise greatly

Word Origin for astonish

C15: from earlier astonyen (see astonied), from Old French estoner, from Vulgar Latin extonāre (unattested) to strike with thunder, from Latin tonāre to thunder
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
FEEDBACK