surprise party
Americannoun
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surprise parties
plural
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a party or celebration planned for someone as a surprise.
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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
The couple also shared a joint Instagram post that featured several snapshots from their eventful trip, including close-ups of Harlow’s ring and her reaction to her surprise party.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 19, 2025
A D-Day veteran shot just 12 days after being flown into Normandy was treated to a surprise party in Suffolk for his 100th birthday.
From BBC ● Jan. 13, 2024
Kesha bought her a dress, told her to put on her heels and took her out to eat, where she’d planned a surprise party.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 17, 2022
It’s like eleven o’clock on the night of your birthday, when you realize no one’s throwing you a surprise party after all.
From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli
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.
