English Reference
Noun

amazement

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /əˈmeɪzmənt/ UK /ɐmˈeɪzmənt/ amaze·ment UK spelling amazements

n.a feeling of great surprise and wonder. You feel this when something is so impressive or unexpected that you cannot believe it.

n.a state of great surprise and wonder. Often used to describe a reaction to something that is difficult to comprehend or explain.


SIMPLE

The children looked in amazement at the fireworks.

CONTEXTUAL

The crowd stood in stunned amazement as the magician pulled a rabbit from an empty hat.

COMPLEX

The discovery of the ancient city was met with a sense of collective amazement that lasted for decades among the archaeological community.

That they only scored once was a source of amazement.

The Guardian· 5 Sept 2026

From amaze + -ment.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated