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sur·prise
 surprise
- pronunciation:
- s
 r
praIz
[or]
s
praIz
- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, noun
- features:
- Word History, Word Builder, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
surprised, surprises, surprising |
| definition 1: |
to catch unawares; occur to unexpectedly.
He surprised her with a kiss.- similar words:
- amaze, catch, startle
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| definition 2: |
to prompt a feeling of wonder in; amaze.
His rough language surprised everyone.- synonyms:
- amaze, astonish, astound, bowl over
- similar words:
- awe, dumbfound, flabbergast, floor, shock, stagger, startle, stun, stupefy
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| definition 3: |
to attack without warning.
The troops surprised the enemy at dawn.- synonyms:
- ambuscade, ambush, bushwhack
- similar words:
- jump
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| definition 4: |
to cause (someone) to react in a way that was not intended.
- synonyms:
- startle
- similar words:
- disconcert, fluster, ruffle, shock, unnerve
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| related words: |
alarm, astonish, astound, bowl over, dazzle, fool, overtake, scare |
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
the act of surprising.
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| definition 2: |
the state of being surprised, astonished, or struck with wonder.
- synonyms:
- amazement, astonishment, wonderment
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| definition 3: |
that which brings about such a state.
- synonyms:
- bombshell, shocker, stunner
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| definition 4: |
anything unexpected.
- similar words:
- twist
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| related words: |
consternation, wonder |
| derivations: |
surprisedly (adv.), surpriser (n.) |
When it entered the English language from early French, surprise meant "to overtake."
Word Builder: surprise +
- surprised:
showing surprise.
- surprising:
causing surprise.
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