surprising
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
- surprisingly adverb
- surprisingness noun
- unsurprising adjective
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.
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.
What makes Mercedes’s resurgence that much more surprising is that, this time around, the team is doing it without one of the greatest drivers of all time.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026
Yes, England won comfortably and without ever losing control to extend their record unbeaten run to 36 Tests, but this wasn't the steamrollering many expected, with Wales - to use Mitchell's word - "surprising" them.
From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026
The speed at which things have improved is a little surprising.
From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026
Two new studies published in the journal Nature reveal a surprising pattern.
From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2026
With surprising speed, she hacked out a hollow just big enough to take herself and her pack, if she curled up small.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
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.
