surprise
verb (used with object)
to strike or occur to with a sudden feeling of wonder or astonishment, as through unexpectedness.
had surprised
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past perfectof surprise.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
“I think it’s nice that people are so hopeful,” she said, adding that the positivity had surprised her.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026
A Pathé newsreel, filmed when she was five years old, noted that the toddler had "surprised musical critics by her playing of Beethoven".
From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026
A revised set of figures continued to show that U.S. economic growth powered ahead last summer, confirming an upswing that had surprised analysts in December.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 22, 2026
Ukrainian sumo wrestler Danylo Yavhusishyn said Monday that he had surprised even himself by becoming the first from his country to win a tournament in the ancient Japanese sport.
From Barron's ● Nov. 24, 2025
Her British accent, one of the few things he clearly remembers about her, is gone; she sounds as American as he does, with the low, gravelly voice that had surprised him on the phone.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
