astonishing
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
extremely surprising or amazing.
causing great surprise or wonder; often used to describe facts, achievements, or changes that seem nearly impossible.
Simple“The team made an astonishing recovery after losing the first three games.”
In context“The speed with which the technology has been adopted globally is truly astonishing, even to those who predicted its success.”
Usageusually placed before a noun or after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'.
PitfallI was very astonishing by the news. I was very astonished by the news.Use 'astonishing' to describe the thing that causes the feeling, and 'astonished' to describe the person who feels it.
SynonymsAntonyms
“Researchers also estimate that its newborns may have measured an astonishing 3.6 meters (12 feet).”
“Scientists have uncovered the oldest known hand-held wooden tools ever used by humans — and they’re an astonishing 430,000 years old.”