astound
Americanverb (used with object)
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astounds,
present (3rd person singular)
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astounded,
past participle, past
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astounding
present participle
adjective
verb
Synonym Usage
See surprise.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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astoundsimple
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astoundssimple
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have astoundedperfect
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has astoundedperfect
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am astoundingprogressive
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are astoundingprogressive
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is astoundingprogressive
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have been astoundingperfect progressive
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has been astoundingperfect progressive
Past
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astoundedsimple
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had astoundedperfect
-
was astoundingprogressive
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were astoundingprogressive
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had been astoundingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of astound
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English astoun(e)d, past participle of astonen, variant of astonyen “to thunder.” See astonish
Explanation
Astound means to amaze. Savants, or those with extreme brain abnormalities, can astound people by their ability to play Beethoven sonatas on the piano after having heard them only once. Astound has its roots in the verb astonish, originally meaning to stun, and the idea of surprise remains wrapped up in the word. Things like over-the-top fireworks, believable magicians, and the miracle of life tend to astound. But if you lick all your favorite cookies to keep anyone else from taking them––your rudeness could astound as well.
Vocabulary lists containing astound
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 26–31
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Ten Words from New York Times History - The Kitchen Debate - July 24, 1959
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Week 2: Discoveries
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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.
See Examples For:
For now, Chambliss is content piling up plays that astound football fans across the country—except for those who know him best.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 6, 2026
Train punctuality in Germany is appalling - worse than in the UK, which will astound weary British commuters.
From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2025
A Banksy work does not astound with technique or formal innovation, nor is it meant to.
From New York Times ● May 30, 2024
And many of these events occurred relatively recently, showing that the field of physics continues to astound us.
From Scientific American ● Jul. 27, 2023
You may try the recipe and astound your hosts.
From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine
Having seen “The Drama” in theaters twice, what astounds me is witnessing the audience’s open-mindedness.
From Salon ● Apr. 9, 2026
He added that DiCaprio "astounds – frazzled and absurd yet also sweet and even noble, he evokes Jack Nicholson in his prime".
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2025
“It still astounds me as to how glacial the pace has been” to tackle the problem, said Dr. Ryan Hoy, who leads an occupational respiratory disease clinic at Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 19, 2023
His work ethic still astounds those around him.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 14, 2022
Most of them are a good decade younger than me, and this astounds me.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
"We were astounded and overjoyed, actually," Haigwood said.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026
Who wouldn’t be astounded by such fruits of the imagination?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Coumarianos adds: “I’ve walked a few clients through all the expenses they’re paying on insurance products for retirement savings, and they’ve been astounded, negatively, at how much their salesperson has extracted from them.”
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 20, 2026
Mark Bird, chief executive of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, said he was "astounded" that MSPs would back a ban.
From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2026
Fluffy sweaters the color of lemon drops tucked into skirts with pleats so orderly they astounded us.
From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison
But doctors were ultimately able to save her leg – something she calls "astounding".
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026
OCI has an astounding $553 billion backlog as of three months ago, over half of which is a single multiyear contract with OpenAI.
From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026
From the beginning of 2025 through this March, “derivative income” funds, which include these options-driven strategies, have taken in an astounding $71 billion of new money, according to Morningstar.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026
With a 9-1 win Friday and a 14-4 victory Saturday, the Bruins advanced to the Women’s College World Series for the 34th time and for the third time in Grant’s astounding tenure.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2026
It’s just astounding... of all the things to stop him ... but how in the name of heaven did Harry survive?”
From "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling
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.
