variants
or less commonly surprize
1
a
: an attack made without warning
b
: a taking unawares
2
: something that surprises
3
: the feeling caused by something unexpected or unusual
variants
or less commonly surprize
surprised also surprized; surprising also surprizing
1
: to attack unexpectedly
also
: to capture by an unexpected attack
2
a
: to take unawares
Police surprised the burglars in the store.
b
: to detect or elicit by a taking unawares
… sometimes surprised a tragic shadow in her eyes.—
Willa Cather
Willa Cather3
: to strike with wonder or amazement especially because unexpected
His conduct surprised me.
: to cause astonishment or surprise
Her success didn't surprise.
surpriser
noun
Examples of surprise in a Sentence
Noun
What a pleasant surprise to see you!
It's no surprise that he doesn't want to go.
Is it any surprise that she should feel disappointed?
The teacher sprang a surprise on us and gave a pop quiz.
I have a special surprise for the children.
The trip was a surprise for her birthday.
Is the party a surprise?
Imagine our surprise when they sold their house and moved to the Bahamas.
He stared at her in surprise.
Verb
The results will surprise you.
Nothing you could say would surprise me.
They surprised everyone by moving to the Bahamas.
A police officer surprised the burglars.
The troops were surprised by an attack from the north.
Recent Examples on the Web
Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2025
Haas became the surprise team out of the midfield, with both Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman running in points by Lap 44.
—Luke Smith, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
Jeryl Brunner, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
This former rail town with a population of less than 700 is an unexpected delight that surprises with a formal tea room, a vista-laden vineyard, and easy access to the New River Trail, the longest rail-trail in Virginia.
—Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surprise
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Noun
The strike hit the surgical building of Nasser Hospital in the city of Khan Yunis, the ministry said, days after the facility was overwhelmed with the dead and wounded when Israel resumed the war in Gaza last week with a surprise wave of airstrikes.
—Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2025
Haas became the surprise team out of the midfield, with both Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman running in points by Lap 44.
—Luke Smith, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
Jade King Carroll: Chisa creates characters and stories that continually surprise you.
—Jeryl Brunner, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
This former rail town with a population of less than 700 is an unexpected delight that surprises with a formal tea room, a vista-laden vineyard, and easy access to the New River Trail, the longest rail-trail in Virginia.
—Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surprise
Cite this Entry
“Surprise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surprise. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
surprise
1 of 2 noun
sur·prise
sə(r)-ˈprīz 
1
a
: an attack made without warning
b
: an act or an instance of coming upon someone suddenly
2
: something that surprises
3
: the state of being surprised : astonishment
surprise
2 of 2 verb
variants
also surprize
surprised also surprized; surprising also surprizing
1
a
: to attack without warning
b
: to capture by an unexpected attack
2
: to come upon unexpectedly
3
: to fill with wonder or amazement because unexpected
surpriser
noun
Geographical Definition
Surprise
geographical name
Sur·prise
sər-ˈprīz
city in south central Arizona west of Phoenix population 117,517
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