astonish

[ uh-ston-ish ]

/ əˈstɒn ɪʃ /

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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.

OTHER WORDS FOR astonish

astound; startle, shock.

See synonyms for astonish on Thesaurus.com

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…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

Words nearby astonish

astomatous, Aston, Aston dark space, stone's throw, a, astonied, astonish, astonished, astonishing, astonishment, Astor, Astoria

How to use astonish in a sentence

“When I look at my list of what we’ve done over the last 25 years, I’m astonished at what we’ve accomplished,” says Paula Johnson, the team’s leader.
Winemakers to pour $4 million into Smithsonian’s popular American Food History Project|Dave McIntyre|June 4, 2021|Washington Post
It is beyond astonishing the imagination that you see on TikTok.
With a unique insight into e-commerce behavior, Klarna’s marketing strategy focuses in on being a part of the cultural conversation|Kayleigh Barber|May 25, 2021|Digiday
That’s why I was astonished one wintry day to see a long-eared jackrabbit tear out from a gravelly wash, its lithe body moving so fast it almost floated above the landscape.
I Was a Bad Dog Owner. Don’t Be Like Me.|Kate Siber|May 11, 2021|Outside Online
What I was astonished by was that there was this sound and fury.
A Conversation with Filmmaker Adam Curtis on Power, Technology and How Ideas Get Into People's Heads|Billy Perrigo|February 23, 2021|Time

I’m astonished to see the extent to which the Attorney General is willing to say things that are blatantly irresponsible but that parrot some of the language of the President.
Sherrilyn Ifill, President of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, on the Battle Over RBG’s Seat and Making Every Vote Count|Eben Shapiro|September 27, 2020|Time
“These words astonish me as much as they amaze you,” he said.
The Iranian Islamic Fundamentalist’s Handbook on Sex in the West|IranWire|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To question that which seems to have ceased forever to astonish us.
To Dream a Dream: Georges Perec’s Night Visions|Lauren Elkin|December 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The art works which still astonish the world were launched in part to give employment to the poor multitude.
Persian Fire and Rubicon (Full)|David Frum|September 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST
They frighten a few people (mostly each other), are rude to bystanders and astonish a cleaning lady.
P.J. O’Rourke Picks His Favorite Travel Books|P. J. O’Rourke|November 12, 2011|DAILY BEAST
His book should astonish both liberals and conservatives—and for very different reasons.
George Bush's Book Will Offend the Right|Matt Latimer|November 10, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Nothing seemed to trouble or astonish the visitor, either about the food or the service.
The Campfire Girls of Roselawn|Margaret Penrose
In thy anger thou wilt tread the earth under foot: in thy wrath thou wilt astonish the nations.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Blind faith in a religion, fanatical zeal for a religion, are too common to astonish us.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay
The members often astonish those who know them best by their responses to their opportunities.
The Leaven in a Great City|Lillian William Betts
And without mere ado, he took up his favourite instrument, and prepared to astonish the company.
Jack Harkaway's Boy Tinker Among The Turks|Bracebridge Hemyng

British Dictionary definitions for astonish

astonish

/ (əˈstɒnɪʃ) /

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

astonish

OTHER WORDS FOR astonish

Origin of astonish

synonym study for astonish

OTHER WORDS FROM astonish

Words nearby astonish

Words related to astonish

How to use astonish in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for astonish

Word Origin for astonish