as in to surprise
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
she was bowled over to learn that she had a long-lost sister
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bowl over
The Bruins don’t have to trade Coyle and probably won’t unless they’re bowled over with an offer, especially to a division rival.
—
Jonas Siegel, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
Rescue workers have been searching for survivors amid the debris of shantytowns bowled over by 200 kph (124 mph) winds.
—Reuters, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024
The episodes air weekly on Wednesday and this week's instalment has Kelce bowled over to learn about Sylvester Stallone's admiration for him.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
Kieran Culkin draws the camera in as Benji, an unpredictable, confrontational and yet tragically empathetic man who has been bowled over by grief.
—Maya Phillips, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bowl over
Jonas Siegel, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
Rescue workers have been searching for survivors amid the debris of shantytowns bowled over by 200 kph (124 mph) winds.
—Reuters, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024
The episodes air weekly on Wednesday and this week's instalment has Kelce bowled over to learn about Sylvester Stallone's admiration for him.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
Kieran Culkin draws the camera in as Benji, an unpredictable, confrontational and yet tragically empathetic man who has been bowled over by grief.
—Maya Phillips, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bowl over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowl over
Verb
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During a press conference on Thursday (Apr. 3), Raleigh festival organizers surprised fans by revealing that Dreamville Fest will return in the future under a new iteration.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
5 Apr. 2025
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On March 14, Parton surprised fans by appearing at Dollywood's Celebrity Theater in honor of Dollywood’s 40th anniversary.—
Elizabeth Stanton,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This isn't the first time a thrift store find has amazed the internet.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Mar. 2025
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After sharing this revelation on TikTok, Kiersten has amazed social media users with the selection of designer bags inside her mom's garage.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Related article Filipina teenager Alexandra Eala stuns five-time grand slam champion Iga Świątek to reach Miami Open semifinals Despite losing, Eala wore a beaming smile on her face before walking off the court, with the crowd applauding her for a memorable run.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2025
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Rogen was also stunned when a Hollywood heavyweight director agreed to appear.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Read: Where science and miracles meet Pagels isn’t trying to shock the faithful.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2025
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This old scout was shocked, as the following email was sent by MLB Monday afternoon, March 31.—
Bernie Pleskoff,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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One of the movie’s scenes — startling for its frankness but also its visual beauty — finds the men reclined in the dark of the mine.—
The New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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Advertisement The investigations left some school leaders startled and confused, wondering what prompted the inquiries.—
TIME,
TIME,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Nintendo rocked the video game world last week with the unveiling of its new console the Switch 2, its price and, most surprisingly, a driving cow.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
7 Apr. 2025
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Their unions rocked the city with four industry-wide strikes between 1912 and 1934, before settling the Industry Wide Agreement that encouraged peaceful resolution of disputes.—
Shaun Richman,
New York Daily News,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The red-carpet looks which astonished us at recent Met Galas were worn for dramatic effect, but, quietly, vintage is being worn all the time, everywhere: a vintage bias slip with a 1970s Elsa Peretti Tiffany cuff, or a ’90s Helmut Lang heel, or, from now, Maison Margiela tabis.—
Amanda Harlech,
Vogue,
24 Mar. 2025
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Director Robert Hastie and choreographer Jenny Arnold keep the quintet of actors in such constant motion, rife with genre winks and references, that I was astonished not to see Ben Stones’s crisp, transformable base costumes of pinstripes, suspenders, and ties soaked clean through by the finale.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bowl over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowl%20over. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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