surprising
suh-PREYE-zihng
Surprising (adj) means causing a feeling of surprise; unexpected. Example: “It is surprising that such a small shop sells so many kinds of tea.”
adj
1
Causing a feeling of surprise; unexpected.
"With this the second of three games in seven days for Stoke, it was hardly surprising to see nine changes from the side that started against Newcastle in the Premier League on Monday."
— David Ornstein, Macc Tel-Aviv 1-2 Stoke (2011)
"It is surprising that such a small shop sells so many kinds of tea."
"The test results were far more surprising than anyone in the lab had expected."
"It was surprising how quickly the flight passed."
"A surprising number of people attended the rally."
How to use surprising
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnexpected enough to cause astonishment.
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Word forms
- Plural
- surprisings
- Comparative
- more surprising
- Superlative
- most surprising
Fill the gap
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It is _____ that such a small shop sells so many kinds of tea.
Etymology
Formed from surprise and -ing.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for surprising
rising
raising
arising
devising
advising
bruising
cruising
uprising
praising
promising
exercising
practising
See all rhymes for surprising →
Frequently asked questions
What does “surprising” mean?
The word “surprising” means causing a feeling of surprise; unexpected. In plain terms, unexpected enough to cause astonishment.
How do you pronounce “surprising”?
“Surprising” is pronounced suh-PREYE-zihng (/sɚˈpɹaɪzɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “surprising” in a sentence?
Here is “surprising” used in a sentence: “It was surprising how quickly the flight passed.”
What is the opposite of “surprising”?
The opposite of “surprising” — its antonyms — are commonplace, everyday, expected, humdrum and mundane.
What part of speech is “surprising”?
“Surprising” is an adjective.
Is “surprising” a common word?
“Surprising” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between surprising and shocking?
"Surprising" means simply unexpected and causing a feeling of surprise, and it can be pleasant or neutral. "Shocking" is much stronger, describing something so unexpected or disturbing that it upsets or distresses you.
What is the difference between surprising and astonishing?
Both mean unexpected, but "astonishing" is far stronger than "surprising". Something surprising catches you off guard, while something astonishing is so unexpected that it leaves you amazed or hardly able to believe it.
What is the difference between surprising and amazing?
"Surprising" simply means unexpected and can be positive, negative, or neutral. "Amazing" is almost always positive and means wonderful or impressive. A result can be surprising without being good, but amazing things are admired.
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