surprising

adjective

sur·​pris·​ing sər-ˈprī-ziŋ 

sə-

: of a nature that excites surprise

Synonyms

• amazing
• astonishing
• astounding
• blindsiding
• dumbfounding
• dumfounding
• eye-opening
• flabbergasting
• jarring
• jaw-dropping
• jolting
• shocking
• startling
• stunning
• stupefying

Examples of surprising in a Sentence

It's not surprising that he doesn't want to go.

The changes to the campus were surprising.

He shows a surprising lack of concern for others.

A surprising number of people were laid off at the factory.

Recent Examples on the Web

All the staples are there, too: bloody battles, surprising revelations and dormant powers within unlikely sources. —Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024

Verdict: Bose Nails the Basics In classic Bose fashion, the SoundLink Home sounds excellent, offering surprising bass response for its size while still providing plenty of detail in the high end. —PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024

Home to the biggest denim flagships and influential department stores in the world, London takes the crown for being one of the most exciting and surprising spots to shop for all things denim. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 5 Nov. 2024

In a surprising victory, former President Donald Trump flipped three blue wall states in 2016: Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. —Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

surprising

adjective

sur·​pris·​ing

sə(r)-ˈprī-ziŋ

: causing surprise : amazing