astonished

American  

[uh-ston-isht] / əˈstɒn ɪʃt /

adjective

1. filled with sudden and overpowering surprise or wonder; amazed.

   Before the eyes of the astonished crowd, the magician pulled off everything from simple card tricks to the disappearance of his lovely assistant.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of astonish.

Other Word Forms

• astonishedly adverb
• unastonished adjective

Etymology

Origin of astonished

First recorded in 1510–20, for an earlier sense; astonish + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective sense; astonish + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb sense

Explanation

If you are astonished, you're feeling the emotional punch of a huge surprise. If you've lived in the city your whole life, the first night you spend in the desert staring at billions of stars will leave you astonished. Astonished is the adjective form of the verb astonish, which comes from old Anglo-Norman for a blow to the head. We use it now for much more positive feelings, when we are stunned by awe and admiration, and not stunned from being hit in the head with a bat! Synonyms are amazed and astounded.

Example Sentences

As cops breathed sighs of relief that he was an architect, those living in Massapequa "were astonished," Livoti said.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

I was astonished that he totally pulled it off and he’s such a true filmmaker.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

She was astonished to discover that a quarter of her corporate clients had been infected with the Kimwolf software.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

"It goes without saying that I'm very happy, and very proud, but at the same time astonished."

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026

Almost five years had passed since the peddler’s spirit raps had first astonished the country.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Related Words

• awed
• baffled
• befuddled
• dazed
• mystified
• perplexed
• puzzled
• rattled
• shocked
• startled
• stunned
• surprised