astonishing

[ uh-ston-i-shing ]

/ əˈstɒn ɪ ʃɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR astonishing ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

causing astonishment or surprise; amazing: an astonishing victory; an astonishing remark.

Nearby words

aston dark space, aston, francis william, astonied, astonish, astonished, astonishing, astonishment, astor, astor, john jacob, astoria, astound

Origin of astonishing

First recorded in 1520–30; astonish + -ing²

Related formsas·ton·ish·ing·ly, adverbas·ton·ish·ing·ness, noun

Definition for astonishing (2 of 2)

astonish

[ uh-ston-ish ]

/ əˈstɒn ɪʃ /

verb (used with object)

to fill with sudden and overpowering surprise or wonder; amaze: Her easy humor and keen intellect astonished me.

Origin of astonish

1525–35; Middle English astonyen, astonen, probably < dialectal Old French *astoner, Old French estoner < 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 Anglo-French *astonir < dialectal Old French

SYNONYMS FOR astonish

astound, startle, shock. See surprise.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR astonish ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsas·ton·ished·ly, adverbas·ton·ish·er, nounsu·per·as·ton·ish, verbun·as·ton·ished, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for astonishing

After Rosemary offers me some tea, I sit down on the couch with Downey Sr. to discuss his astonishing life, and career.
The Renegade: Robert Downey Sr. on His Classic Films, Son’s Battle with Drugs, and Bill Cosby|Marlow Stern|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was astonishing yesterday that he pinned the blame for the attacks on Mahmoud Abbas, the Fatah leader.
After the Israel Synagogue Massacre: A New Intifada?|Michael Tomasky|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Along with contorting, she also performs an astonishing balancing act.
How the Circus Got a Social Conscience|Justin Jones|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Lepore has an astonishing story and tells it extremely well.
Wonder Woman’s Creation Story Is Wilder Than You Could Ever Imagine|Tom Arnold-Forster|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The most astonishing came from Ron and Mavis Pirola, a middle-aged Australian couple who have been together for 57 years.
The Vatican's Same-Sex Synod: The Bishops Hear About Reality. Do They Listen?|Barbie Latza Nadeau|October 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Commerce, however, fixed Kinshassa as its base of operation, and its expansion has been astonishing for that part of the world.
An African Adventure|Isaac F. Marcosson
He was silent and sedate, and conducted himself with astonishing dignity.
Buddhism, In its Connexion With Brahmanism and Hinduism, and In Its Contrast with Christianity|Sir Monier Monier-Williams
While he was rereading the astonishing news, the door of his office opened and Juve walked in.
A Royal Prisoner|Pierre Souvestre
The crowd had barely recovered from the effect of the astonishing revelation when the hearing was resumed.
The Mystery of the Yellow Room|Gaston Leroux
There was not one word in explanation of this astonishing announcement.
In Direst Peril|David Christie Murray

British Dictionary definitions for astonishing (1 of 2)

astonishing

/ (əˈstɒnɪʃɪŋ) /

adjective

causing great surprise or amazement; astounding

Derived Formsastonishingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for astonishing (2 of 2)

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

Word Origin and History for astonishing

astonish

c.1300, astonien, from Old French estoner "to stun, daze, deafen, astound," from Vulgar Latin *extonare, from Latin ex- "out" + tonare "to thunder" (see thunder); so, literally "to leave someone thunderstruck." The modern form (influenced by English verbs in -ish, e.g. distinguish, diminish) is attested from c.1530.

No wonder is thogh that she were astoned [Chaucer, "Clerk's Tale"]

Related: Astonished; astonishing; astonishingly.

astonishing

adjective

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of astonishing

Definition for astonishing (2 of 2)

astonish

verb (used with object)

Origin of astonish

Examples from the Web for astonishing

British Dictionary definitions for astonishing (1 of 2)

astonishing

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for astonishing (2 of 2)

astonish

verb

Word Origin for astonish

Word Origin and History for astonishing

astonish