surprisingly
suh-PREYE-zihng-lee
Surprisingly (adv) means In a way that is unexpected or astonishing. Example: “The tiny café was surprisingly busy, even in the middle of the afternoon.”
adv
1
In a way that is unexpected or astonishing.
"The house was surprisingly small for such a numerous family."
"The tiny café was surprisingly busy, even in the middle of the afternoon."
"Not surprisingly, the electrician didn't come at the time he had said."
"The exam was surprisingly easy."
"Surprisingly, nobody complained about the delay."
"Chema'd, surprisingly, paid for everything."
How to use surprisingly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsed to flag that something turned out differently than expected.
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more surprisingly
- Superlative
- most surprisingly
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The tiny café was _____ busy, even in the middle of the afternoon.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for surprisingly
kingly
tingly
lovingly
amazingly
willingly
seemingly
mockingly
knowingly
alarmingly
annoyingly
strikingly
shockingly
See all rhymes for surprisingly →
Frequently asked questions
What does “surprisingly” mean?
The word “surprisingly” means in a way that is unexpected or astonishing. In plain terms, used to flag that something turned out differently than expected.
How do you pronounce “surprisingly”?
“Surprisingly” is pronounced suh-PREYE-zihng-lee (/səˈpɹaɪzɪŋli/ in IPA).
How do you use “surprisingly” in a sentence?
Here is “surprisingly” used in a sentence: “The exam was surprisingly easy.”
What part of speech is “surprisingly”?
“Surprisingly” is an adverb.
Is “surprisingly” a common word?
“Surprisingly” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
Where should surprisingly go in a sentence?
Surprisingly often works as a sentence adverb at the start of a sentence, followed by a comma: "Surprisingly, the plan worked." It can also sit directly before an adjective or adverb it intensifies, as in "a surprisingly good result" or "it healed surprisingly fast."
What is the difference between surprisingly and unexpectedly?
Both describe something that was not anticipated, but surprisingly emphasizes the reaction of astonishment, while unexpectedly more neutrally states that something was not predicted. "The medicine worked surprisingly fast" highlights how astonishing the speed is; "the meeting ended unexpectedly" simply records that no one saw it coming.
Is it "not surprisingly" or "unsurprisingly"?
Both are standard and mean the same thing: the outcome was predictable. Unsurprisingly is a single, slightly more concise adverb, while not surprisingly is a common set phrase; either can open a sentence followed by a comma.
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