Surprise
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /sə(ː)ˈpɹaɪ̯z/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Surprise is a noun meaning Something unexpected.
Meaning
Something unexpected.
More Meanings
- The feeling that something unexpected has happened.
- (transitive) To cause (someone) to feel unusually alarmed or delighted by something unexpected.
- (transitive) To do something to (a person) that they are not expecting, as a surprise.
- (intransitive) To undergo or witness something unexpected.
- (intransitive) To cause surprise.
- (transitive) To attack unexpectedly.
- (transitive) To take unawares.
Example Sentences
Surprise! - A party! Awesome!
It came as a surprise when he succeed.
It was a surprise to find out I owed twice as much as I thought.
Imagine my surprise on learning I owed twice as much as I thought I did.
Word Forms
- surprises
- surprize
- surprising
- surprised
Synonyms for surprise
Depending on context, synonyms include unexpected, astonishment, amazement, awe, bewilderment, flabbergast.
Antonyms for surprise
Common opposites include expectancy, expectation.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include surprisal, storm, surprisingly, confuse, puzzlement, startled.
Related Dictionary Tools
Practice “surprise” in a Crossword
Recall this definition from a clue, use crossing letters, and review the word again when you solve it.
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.