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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bowl over
Place the bowl over the pot and cook, stirring continuously, until the mixture is fully melted and satiny smooth, about 5 minutes.
—
Janice Feuer Haugen, Saveur, 12 Feb. 2025
Place a second medium heatproof bowl over the pot and turn the heat to medium-low.
—Janice Feuer Haugen, Saveur, 12 Feb. 2025
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
Dylan plays his song written in homage to Guthrie and Seeger—played in a beautifully understated way by Ed Norton—is bowled over by this uncut diamond.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bowl over
Janice Feuer Haugen, Saveur, 12 Feb. 2025
Place a second medium heatproof bowl over the pot and turn the heat to medium-low.
—Janice Feuer Haugen, Saveur, 12 Feb. 2025
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
Dylan plays his song written in homage to Guthrie and Seeger—played in a beautifully understated way by Ed Norton—is bowled over by this uncut diamond.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bowl over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowl over
Verb
-
There were no big Heat rotation surprises to begin the postseason.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Vogue: What has surprised you most about your parenting journey?—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
What amazes me is that after Covid, a lot of the business became transactional.—
Jennifer Leigh Parker,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
-
This isn't the first time a thrift store find has amazed the internet.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Rogen was also stunned when a Hollywood heavyweight director agreed to appear.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Another photographer told me how she was shocked by the amount of couples booking for years down the line.—
Shelby Wax,
Vogue,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Moment Mom Realizes What 11-Year-Old Daughter Had Been Doing With Scissors By Jack Beresford Senior Life and Trends Reporter Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member news article 0 A mom was shocked to discover that her 11-year-old daughter had made some noticeable modifications to her school uniform.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
In a now-viral video from Stacy Goss, the family was startled by the sight of a huge bald eagle gawking at them, but more concerningly, at their dog Gnocchi.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Area residents might remember similar sights of helicopters in 2023, when the sounds of gunfire and explosions from military training startled some in the Kansas City metro.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff plan has rocked global markets, with every single sector in the S&P 500 ending Friday in deep red.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
They too would have been astonished by its subtle yet pleasant effects and its practical use.—
Wade Davis,
Rolling Stone,
6 Apr. 2025
-
Former and current military fighter pilots were astonished that the Secretary of Defense texted details of the classified attack plan.—
Rick Pozniak,
Boston Herald,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bowl over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowl%20over. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share