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- pronunciation:
- s
 r
praIz
[or]
s
praIz
- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, noun
- phrases:
- take by surprise
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb, noun), Word History, Word Builder, Word Explorer, Grammatical Patterns, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
surprises, surprising, surprised |
| definition 1: |
to act upon (someone or something) without warning; to catch unawares.
He surprised her with an engagement ring.She hides in the closet and then surprises her little brother by jumping out when he opens it.Try not to surprise the animal by coming too close.- similar words:
- amaze, catch, startle
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| definition 2: |
to prompt a feeling of mild shock or wonder in; take aback; amaze.
His rough language surprised everyone.Her natural talent for golf surprised both herself and her friends.It surprised me that she would say such a strange thing.[it + verb + smby + that + clause
]
I should expect it by now, but it always surprises me when he does things like that.[it + verb + smby + when + clause
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It surprised her parents to hear that she and her husband had decided to divorce.[it + verb + smby + infinitive
]
- synonyms:
- amaze, astonish, astound, bowl over
- similar words:
- awe, dumbfound, flabbergast, floor, shock, stagger, startle, stun, stupefy
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| definition 3: |
to attack without warning.
The troops surprised the enemy at dawn.- synonyms:
- ambuscade, ambush, bushwhack
- similar words:
- jump
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| definition 4: |
to cause (someone) to react in a way not intended.
The sudden accusation surprised her into a tearful confession.- synonyms:
- startle
- similar words:
- disconcert, fluster, ruffle, shock, unnerve
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| related words: |
alarm, astonish, astound, bowl over, dazzle, fool, overtake, scare |
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
the act of surprising.
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| definition 2: |
the state of being surprised, astonished, or struck with wonder.
- synonyms:
- amazement, astonishment, wonderment
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| definition 3: |
that which brings about such a state.
- synonyms:
- bombshell, shocker, stunner
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| definition 4: |
anything unexpected.
- similar words:
- twist
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| related words: |
consternation, wonder |
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| phrase: |
take by surprise |
| derivations: |
surprisedly (adv.), surpriser (n.) |
When it entered the English language from early French, surprise meant "to overtake."
Word Builder: surprise +
- surprised:
showing surprise.
- surprising:
causing surprise.
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