surprise party
Americannoun
-
a party or celebration planned for someone as a surprise.
-
something that surprises someone.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of surprise party
First recorded in 1835–45
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.
This is a surprise party season for the Colts, who bounced back from a six-turnover stinkbomb to the Steelers a week ago.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 10, 2025
Mr Hussain is said to have been on his way to a surprise party with family after leaving Islamabad Airport when the incident happened.
From BBC • Jan. 11, 2024
It kind of felt like a surprise party, except none of my close friends were there.
From Salon • Dec. 16, 2023
She said new content featuring the doll will hit Barbie’s YouTube channel later this month, with an animated special about the planning of a surprise party.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 12, 2023
“I’ve never been to a surprise party where the birthday person was really surprised,” Ana says.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
![]()
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.