Word
astonishing
Phoneticsas·ton·ish·ing, stress on the second syllable
US/əˈstɑnɪʃɪŋ/
UK/ɐstˈɒnɪʃɪŋ/
Definition
adj. extremely surprising or amazing.
adj. causing great surprise or wonder; often used to describe facts, achievements, or changes that seem nearly impossible.
Examples
“The view from the top of the mountain is astonishing.”
“The young athlete showed astonishing progress, breaking three national records in a single afternoon.”
“The speed with which the technology evolved was truly astonishing, transforming the entire industry in less than a decade and rendering previous methods obsolete.”
Examples
simple
“The view from the top of the mountain is astonishing.”
contextual
“The young athlete showed astonishing progress, breaking three national records in a single afternoon.”
complex
“The speed with which the technology evolved was truly astonishing, transforming the entire industry in less than a decade and rendering previous methods obsolete.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “astonishing” in context.
Verb
01. find it astonishing
“I find it astonishing that they managed to finish the project on such a small budget.”
verb + noun + adj
02. remain astonishing
“Even after all these years, her ability to remember every student's name remains astonishing.”
verb + adj
Adjective
03. astonishing achievement
“Winning three gold medals in one week was an astonishing achievement for the young athlete.”
adj + noun
04. astonishing amount
“The charity raised an astonishing amount of money in just twenty-four hours.”
adj + noun
05. astonishing lack
“There was an astonishing lack of evidence to support the prosecutor's claims.”
adj + noun
06. truly astonishing
“The speed at which the technology has developed is truly astonishing.”
adv + adj
Usage
usually placed before a noun or after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'.
Pitfall
I 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.
Real-World Examples
“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.” “However, due to headwinds, that was reduced to 74 minutes, which was and still continues to be an astonishing achievement.” “Ten years after our first journey to the Great Ghost Lake region, we returned and encountered an even more astonishing sight.” Synonyms
Antonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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