English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

surprise

noun

Something unexpected, or the feeling caused by it.

surprised

adj

Feeling or showing astonishment at something unexpected.

surprising

adj

Causing a feeling of surprise; unexpected.

surprisingly

adv

In a way that is unexpected or astonishing.

surreal

adj

Strange and dreamlike, in a way that feels unreal or bizarre.

surrealism

noun

An early 20th-century art movement that explored dreams, the subconscious, and irrational imagery.

surrealist

adj

Relating to surrealism or having a similarly dreamlike, bizarre quality.

surrender

verb

To stop fighting or resisting and give oneself up to an opponent.

surrendering

noun

The act of giving up or submitting to someone else's control.

Surrey

noun

A light, open carriage with two facing forward-facing bench seats, originally pulled by a horse; also used loosely for a similarly styled small motorized vehicle.

surrogacy

noun

The practice of carrying and giving birth to a child on behalf of another person or couple.

surrogate

noun

A person or thing that substitutes for another.

surround

verb

To be positioned on all sides of something; to encircle.

surrounding

noun

An area or environment close to or around something.

surroundings

noun

The area, objects, and conditions around a person or place; an environment.

surrounds

noun

The area or things bordering or close to something; surroundings.

surveillance

noun

Close, ongoing observation of a person, group, or place, especially to gather information or watch for wrongdoing.

survey

noun

A set of questions used to gather information or opinions from a group of people.

surveying

noun

The science and practice of measuring land — working out exact positions, distances, and boundaries.

surveyor

noun

Someone whose job is to measure land and mark out exact boundaries and positions.

survival

noun

The act or fact of staying alive, especially through danger or difficulty.

survive

verb

To stay alive, especially after facing danger, illness, or hardship.

surviving

adj

Still alive or still existing.

survivor

noun

A person who lives through a dangerous or traumatic event.

Surya

name

A given name of Sanskrit origin, also the name of the Hindu sun god.

Sus

adj

Suspicious; looking or feeling questionable (informal slang).

Susan

name

A common female given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "lily."

Susanna

name

A feminine given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "lily."

Susannah

name

A variant spelling of Susanna, a feminine given name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily."

Susanne

name

A variant of Susanna, a feminine given name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily."

susceptible

adj

Likely to be affected, harmed, or influenced by something.

sushi

noun

A Japanese dish of vinegared rice, often paired with raw fish, seafood, or vegetables and sometimes wrapped in seaweed.

Susie

name

A diminutive form of Susan or Susanna, a feminine given name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily."

suspect

verb

To think that something is probably true, without having proof.

suspected

adj

Believed to be responsible, true, or present, though not confirmed.

suspend

verb

To stop something temporarily, meaning to start it again later.

suspended

adj

Stopped or paused for a time.

suspenders

noun

Straps worn over the shoulders to hold up trousers.

suspense

noun

A feeling of nervous excitement or anxiety while waiting to find out what happens.

suspenseful

adj

Full of tension and uncertainty about what will happen next.

suspension

noun

A temporary stop or delay of something.

suspicion

noun

A feeling that something is wrong or that someone has done something wrong, without proof.

suspicious

adj

Making people think something is wrong or dishonest.

suspiciously

adv

In a way that suggests something is wrong or dishonest.

suss

verb

(informal, chiefly British) To work out or figure out something.

Sussex

noun

A breed of domestic chicken, reared for both its meat and its eggs, known for its calm temperament and reddish-brown or speckled feathers.

Sussman

name

A surname of German or Jewish origin, meaning "sweet man."

sustain

verb

To keep something going or in existence over time.

sustainability

noun

The capacity to keep something going long-term without depleting resources or causing lasting damage.

sustainable

adj

Able to be maintained or continued over a long period.

sustained

adj

Kept going continuously over a period of time, without dropping off.

sustaining

adj

Providing support, strength, or nourishment.

sustenance

noun

Food, drink, or support that keeps a person or thing alive and functioning.

susu

noun

An informal savings arrangement, common in West Africa and the Caribbean, where a group of people pool money and take turns receiving the full pot.

SUSY

name

An affectionate short form of Susan and similar female names.

Sutherland

name

A Scottish surname and place name meaning "southern land," referring to a historic county in the Scottish Highlands.

sutra

noun

A rule, aphorism, or short saying in Sanskrit texts on grammar, law, or philosophy.

Sutter

name

A German surname, historically an occupational name for a shoemaker; notably borne by John Sutter, whose California mill was the site of the 1848 gold discovery.

Sutton

name

A surname and place name found across England, Ireland, Canada, the US, Australia, and New Zealand — usually marking a town on the southern edge of an older settlement.

suture

noun

A stitch, or the thread used to make it, that closes a wound or surgical cut.

Suwa

name

A city in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, on the shore of Lake Suwa.

sux

verb

Informal spelling of "sucks," meaning something is bad or disappointing.

Suzan

name

A female given name, a variant spelling of Susan.

Suzanna

name

A female given name, a variant of Susanna, ultimately from Hebrew.

Suzanne

name

A female given name, the French form of Susanna.

Suze

name

A shortened, affectionate form of Susan, Suzanne, or related names.

Suzette

name

A female given name, a French diminutive of Suzanne.

Suzhou

name

A historic city in Jiangsu province, China, known for its canals, gardens, and silk industry, and often called the "Venice of the East."

Suzi

name

A short, informal form of Susan and related names.

Suzie

name

A short, informal form of Susan and related names.

Suzuki

name

A common Japanese surname.

Suzy

name

A short, informal form of Susan and related names.

Sven

name

A male given name of Swedish origin.

svengali

noun

A person who controls or manipulates another, often through charm, persuasion, or something close to hypnotic influence — commonly an overbearing mentor or manager.

Svensson

name

A Swedish surname meaning "son of Sven."

Sveta

name

A Russian pet form of the name Svetlana.

Svetlana

name

A female given name common in Slavic, especially Orthodox Christian, countries.

SVR

name

Russia's foreign intelligence agency, responsible for espionage and intelligence gathering outside the country.

swab

noun

A small pad of absorbent material, often on a stick, used to clean a wound, apply medicine, or collect a sample.

swag

noun

Free promotional items or merchandise handed out at events, or casually, any collection of nice possessions.

swagger

verb

To walk or behave with a bold, confident, slightly showy manner.

Swahili

name

A Bantu language widely spoken across East Africa, historically shaped by contact between Bantu and Arabic-speaking traders.

swain

noun

A young man courting a woman, especially in an old-fashioned or poetic, rural setting.

swallow

verb

To move food or drink from the mouth down into the stomach.

swallowing

noun

The act of moving food, drink, or saliva from the mouth into the stomach.

swami

noun

A Hindu religious teacher or ascetic, especially one who has taken monastic vows.

swamp

noun

An area of wet, spongy, low-lying land, often with trees, that supports rich but sometimes difficult-to-access wildlife.

swamped

adj

Overwhelmed with too much to do.

swampy

adj

Wet, soft, and marshy, like a swamp.

Swamy

name

A surname of Hindi origin, related to the title "swami."

swan

noun

A large, long-necked waterbird, usually with white plumage, known for its graceful appearance.

swank

adj

Fashionably stylish and impressive; posh.

swanky

adj

Stylish, expensive-looking, and impressive.

Swann

name

A surname, a variant spelling of Swan.

Swanson

name

A surname meaning "son of Swan."

swap

verb

To exchange one thing for another.

swapping

noun

The act of exchanging one thing for another.

swarm

noun

A large group of insects, especially bees, moving or migrating together.

swarming

noun

The movement of a large group — insects, people, or animals — clustering and moving together.

swarthy

adj

Having noticeably dark skin or a deep tan complexion.

swastika

noun

An ancient symbol made of a cross with each arm bent at a right angle, historically used across many cultures as a sign of good fortune, but today associated almost entirely with Nazi Germany and fascism.

swat

verb

To hit something sharply and quickly, especially an insect.

swatting

noun

A prank or attack in which someone makes a false report to police to get an armed SWAT team sent to a victim's address.

sway

verb

To move slowly and rhythmically from side to side.

swayed

verb

Past tense of "sway" — moved from side to side, or was persuaded/influenced.

swaying

noun

A slow, repeated movement from side to side.

Swayze

adjective

Slang: dead, or gone for good.

swear

verb

To make a solemn promise or formal declaration, often under oath.

swearing

noun

The use of offensive or crude language.

sweat

noun

The salty liquid released through the skin, usually from heat, exercise, or stress.

sweated

adj

Produced under harsh, exploitative working conditions, typically for very low pay.

sweater

noun

A knitted garment worn over the upper body for warmth, usually pulled over the head.

sweating

noun

The process of releasing sweat through the skin, usually to cool the body.

sweatpants

noun

Loose, comfortable trousers with an elastic or drawstring waist, usually made of soft cotton fleece.

sweats

noun

A matching set of sweatshirt and sweatpants, worn casually or for exercise.

sweatshirt

noun

A loose, long-sleeved top made of soft fleece fabric, worn for comfort or light exercise.

sweatshop

noun

A factory or workshop where employees work long hours for low pay in poor or unsafe conditions.

sweaty

adj

Covered in or damp with sweat.

swede

noun

A large, round root vegetable with yellowish flesh, related to the turnip.

Sweden

name

A Scandinavian country in Northern Europe, officially the Kingdom of Sweden.

Swedish

name

The North Germanic language spoken mainly in Sweden and parts of Finland.

Sweeney

name

An Irish surname, anglicized from Gaelic "Ó Suibhne."

sweep

verb

To clean a surface by brushing dirt or debris away, usually with a broom.

sweeper

noun

A person or machine that cleans by sweeping.

sweeping

adj

Wide-ranging and affecting many things at once.

sweeps

noun

Periods when television ratings are measured to set advertising rates.

sweepstakes

noun

A contest or lottery in which prizes are awarded based on chance, usually at no cost to enter.

sweet

adj

Having the taste of sugar; not sour, salty, or bitter.

sweeten

verb

To make something taste sweeter, usually by adding sugar or another sweetener.

sweetened

adj

Having had sugar or another sweetener added.

sweetener

noun

A substance, often artificial, used to make food or drink taste sweet.

sweetheart

noun

A term of affection used for a romantic partner or a loved one.

sweetie

noun

An affectionate term for someone dearly loved.

sweetly

adv

In a kind, gentle, or pleasant way.

sweetness

noun

The quality of tasting sweet.

sweets

noun

British informal term for candy or confectionery.

sweetums

noun

An affectionate, informal nickname used for a loved one, child, or pet.

Sweetwater

name

The name of several towns and small communities across the United States.

swell

verb

To grow bigger, especially by filling with fluid or gas.

swelling

noun

An area of the body that has become puffy or enlarged, usually from injury or illness.

sweltering

adj

Uncomfortably hot and humid.

Swenson

name

A surname of Scandinavian origin, meaning "son of Sven."

swept

verb

Past tense and past participle of sweep — cleaned or cleared using a brush, or carried along by force.

swerve

verb

To turn suddenly away from a straight path, often to avoid hitting something.

swerving

noun

A sudden or repeated change of direction.

swift

adj

Moving or happening very quickly.

swiftly

adv

In a fast or quick manner.

swig

verb

To drink something in large gulps, often straight from the bottle or can.

swill

noun

Kitchen scraps and liquid waste fed to pigs, or by extension, any low-quality food or drink.

swim

verb

To move through water by moving the arms, legs, fins, or tail.