surprising
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of surprising
Explanation
Surprising things are completely unexpected—they astonish or startle you. It would be surprising for most of us to get a phone call from the Queen of England. Unless you suspected your friend was planning something, the surprise party she throws for your birthday will be surprising. Things that are surprising take you aback or even confuse you a little bit. The adjective surprising comes from surprise, via the Old French sorprendre, "to overtake or seize." The original meaning of surprise party was a stealth military action.
Vocabulary lists containing surprising
Amazing
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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.
Not surprising, then, grandparenting has been associated with improved mobility, less depression and improved cognition, especially for older cohorts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
The most notable and explicit confession, though perhaps the least surprising, came from the Department of Energy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
The most surprising part of the theory may be that the ancient median eye never disappeared completely.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
"It's the kind of headline you'd expect from M&S or Next," says retail analyst Natalie Berg, explaining that price cuts like this from such a low-cost retailer are surprising.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
The bubbles adhered to each other, and to the branches of the willows, with surprising strength.
From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate
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.
