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.
Bill Plaschke writes LeBron James, Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard will lead the Lakers to a surprising first-round playoff series win over the Rockets.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026
Astronomers have identified something surprising on a distant gas giant: water ice clouds.
From Science Daily • Apr. 22, 2026
Mrs Smith says it was not surprising "given the dire straits of social care financially".
From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026
The U.K.’s unemployment rate fell in the three months through February, a show of surprising resilience as the conflict in the Middle East raises the pressure on firms to reduce hiring or cut jobs.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026
Instead, what happens is genuinely surprising: Theo neatly folds his hands in his own lap.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
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.
