surprising
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Derived 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.
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.
New research in mice suggests that gut microbes and the compounds they produce may play a surprising role in protecting against some of the condition's most serious consequences, including heart disease.
From Science Daily • Jun. 9, 2026
And the most surprising part is that they won’t be alone.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
After unleashing a superb backhand winner from an acute angle off the court, she broke into a broad grin and spread her arms out in a gesture that suggested she was surprising even herself.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
Though not a part of his economic outlook, an inflation surge into the 8% to 9% range over the next 12 months would not be surprising, he says.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 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.
