astonishing
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of astonishing
Explanation
Something astonishing is astounding, staggering, stupefying, amazing, or incredible. It's not something you see every day. This is a pretty strong word. A dog shaking hands is not astonishing, but a dog calling 911 for its owner definitely is. Astonishing things are amazing; they blow your mind. When people first walked on the moon, that was astonishing. Miracles are astonishing. If you say, "Holy cow! I can't believe what I'm seeing," you're probably seeing something astonishing.
Vocabulary lists containing astonishing
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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Nothing But the Truth
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Copper Sun
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The actor is Jack Holden, whose astonishing, chameleonic performance powers the drama, which he co-wrote with Ed Stambollouian, who also directs.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
The Lakers rebounding was astonishing, nearly doubling the offensive rebounds of the NBA’s best offensive rebounding team.
From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2026
White House spokesman Kush Desai was quick to laud the growth rate, saying it was "driven by an astonishing surge in business investment."
From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026
Shortly after its discovery, estimates of its market worth reached £500,000 - but did any of the finders gain from their astonishing discovery?
From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026
I have discovered, deep in the hearts of many condemned and incarcerated people, the scattered traces of hope and humanity—seeds of restoration that come to astonishing life when nurtured by very simple interventions.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
