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.
The surprising revelation was part of a torrent of flattery, pomp and circumstance unleashed by Trump as Charles and Queen Camilla visited the White House.
From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026
And without children to serve as default heirs, caregivers or decision makers, many of these “solo agers” quietly delay estate planning — leaving a surprising gap in otherwise well-constructed financial lives.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026
Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who ran 1:59:41, was just as surprising, considering that Sunday was his first ever competitive marathon.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 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
Themba placed her knobby hands on Ekon’s shoulders and pressed him down onto the flour sacks with surprising strength, then straightened to inspect him.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
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.
