surprise, astonish, astound, amaze, flabbergast mean to impress forcibly through unexpectedness. surprise stresses causing an effect through being unexpected but not necessarily unusual or novel.

SURPRISE definition: 1. an unexpected event: 2. the feeling caused by something unexpected happening: 3. to make…. Learn more.

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1. to strike with a sudden feeling of wonder or astonishment, esp. by being unexpected. 2. to come upon or discover suddenly and unexpectedly. 3. to make an unexpected assault on (an unprepared army, …

[countable] an event, a piece of news, etc. that is unexpected or that happens suddenly. What a nice surprise! I have a surprise for you! There are few surprises in this year's budget. It comes as no …

To surprise is to take unawares or to affect with wonder: surprised at receiving a telegram. To astonish is to strike with wonder by something unlooked for, startling, or seemingly inexplicable: astonished at …

SURPRISE definition: to strike or occur to with a sudden feeling of wonder or astonishment, as through unexpectedness. See examples of surprise used in a sentence.