astonish

[uh-ston-ish]

verb (used with object)

1. to fill with sudden and overpowering surprise or wonder; amaze.

   Her easy humor and keen intellect astonished me.

   Synonyms: shock, startle, astound

astonish

/ əˈstɒnɪʃ /

verb

1. (tr) to fill with amazement; surprise greatly

Other Word Forms

• astonisher noun
• superastonish verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of astonish¹

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 -ish ², perhaps reflecting unattested Anglo-French astonir, from dialectal Old French; thunder

Word History and Origins

Origin of astonish¹

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

Synonym Study

See surprise.

Example Sentences

Praising the quick-thinking of those at the synagogue, he told the BBC: "I saw genuine heroism, I have to say, and people who ran to help others rather than running away. It was astonishing."

From BBC

Praising the quick-thinking of those at the synagogue, he said: "I saw genuine heroism, I have to say, and people who ran to help others rather than running away. It was astonishing."

From BBC

Swift's Eras Tour was an "astonishing challenge", she told Hits Radio's Fleur East, Will Best and James Barr, saying how proud she was of her crew, performers and indeed herself.

From BBC

"I was astonished, I was shocked," he said, adding that he believed the Al-Shamies moved to the street about 15 years ago.

From BBC

Reid, who is herself bicoastal between L.A. and New York, narrates, through astonishing orchestral properties and powers, an environmental tale of her two cities.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amaze 
• astound 
• bewilder 
• boggle 
• confound 
• daze 
• dumbfound 
• flabbergast 
• overwhelm 
• shock 
• startle 
• stun 
• stupefy