# astonishingly

/əˈstɑnɪʃɪŋɫi/ (US) · /ɐstˈɒnɪʃɪŋli/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/astonishingly
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

in a way that is very surprising or shocking. You use this to describe something that is much better or worse than you expected.

For teachers: in a manner that causes great surprise or amazement. Often used to introduce a result that is significantly different from a previous expectation.

## Examples

- The team won the game astonishingly quickly.
- Astonishingly, the small startup managed to outperform the established giants in the same industry.
- Astonishingly, the ancient manuscript survived the centuries of war and decay, providing modern scholars with an unprecedented look into the daily lives of the era.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.