astonishment

[uh-ston-ish-muhnt]

noun

1. overpowering wonder or surprise; amazement.

   He looked with astonishment at his friends.

2. an object or cause of amazement.

astonishment

/ əˈstɒnɪʃmənt /

noun

1. extreme surprise; amazement

2. a cause of amazement

Other Word Forms

• superastonishment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of astonishment¹

First recorded in 1570–80; astonish + -ment

Example Sentences

"You know, 'it mustn't happen again. We cannot inflict this on our children'. There was astonishment, a shock realisation that the war had been so much more horrible than anyone had imagined it could be."

Read more on BBC

He had a look of astonishment on his face and three empty Red Bull cans in his backpack.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The German food and agriculture ministry told the BBC last year that it had taken note of the Turkish bid "with some astonishment".

Read more on BBC

I finished both movies double-checking my watch in astonishment that they really were under an hour and a half.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

For real — not like the astonishment Zoë Kravitz feigned in a Golden Globes-set episode of “The Studio,” faking disbelief at the podium when she knew all along that she was going to win.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amazement 
• awe 
• bewilderment 
• confusion 
• consternation 
• wonderment