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definitions

astounding

[uh-stoun-ding]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR astounding ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

capable of overwhelming with amazement; stunningly surprising.

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RELATED WORDS

startling, breathtaking, surprising, astonishing, mind-boggling, wondrous, eye-popping, overwhelming, shocking, stupefying, confounding, mind-blowing

Origin of astounding

First recorded in 1580–90; astound + -ing2
Related formsas·tound·ing·ly, adverb

astound

[uh-stound]

verb (used with object)

to overwhelm with amazement; astonish greatly; shock with wonder or surprise.

adjective

Archaic. astonished; astounded.

Origin of astound

1275–1325; Middle English astoun(e)d, past participle of astonen, variant of astonyen to astonish
Related formsas·tound·ment, noun

Synonyms for astound

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR astound ON THESAURUS.COM
1. See surprise.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for astounding

Contemporary Examples of astounding

Historical Examples of astounding

  • The explanation of this astounding similarity will be given when we come to "Othello."

  • The charm of it all, the deathless charm and the astounding veracity!

  • It is astounding how ill-endowed Shakespeare was on the side of manliness.

  • The inadequacy, the feebleness of the whole thing is astounding.

  • Harvest after harvest Shakespeare brought forth of astounding quality.

British Dictionary definitions for astounding

astounding

adjective

causing amazement and wonder; bewildering
Derived Formsastoundingly, adverb

astound

verb

(tr) to overwhelm with amazement and wonder; bewilder

Word Origin for astound

C17: from astoned amazed, from Old French estoné, from estoner to astonish
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 astounding

astound

v.

mid-15c., from Middle English astouned, astoned (c.1300), past participle of astonen, astonien "to stun" (see astonish), with more of the original sense of Vulgar Latin *extonare. Related: Astounded; astounding.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper