surprisingly
Americanadverb
-
in a way that causes a feeling of wonder or astonishment.
The artist creates works that are both approachable and surprisingly sophisticated.
-
in a way that is seen as unlikely or unexpected.
Despite its geographic isolation and small population, Reykjavik is surprisingly cosmopolitan.
The phone has an impressive array of features, and yet is surprisingly affordable.
Other Word Forms
- unsurprisingly adverb
Etymology
Origin of surprisingly
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.
It’s looking like a poor end to 2025 for investors in two biotechnology companies that on Monday reported surprisingly disappointing trial results for a treatment for a rare bone disease.
From MarketWatch
Not surprisingly, established intellectual property — whether video games, known franchises, novels or comic books — still topped the charts this year, with nine of the top 10 domestic films tied to an existing title.
From Los Angeles Times
As more cases rush up to the Supreme Court, a surprisingly hot topic has emerged in legal circles: What is the best way to refer to this increasingly consequential portion of the court’s work?
Whether China’s economy and stock market score another surprisingly strong year in 2026 depends in large part on how well things go in the U.S.
From Barron's
Whether China’s economy and stock market score another surprisingly strong year in 2026 depends in large part on how well things go in the U.S.
From Barron's
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.
