Word
astonishment
Phoneticsas·ton·ish·ment, stress on the second syllable
US/əˈstɑnɪʃmənt/
UK/ɐstˈɒnɪʃmənt/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. a feeling of being very surprised and unable to believe something is true. You feel this when you see or hear something that is completely unexpected.
n. a state of being extremely surprised or shocked by something unexpected. Often used in literary or formal contexts to describe a strong emotional reaction.
Examples
“The crowd stood in astonishment as the magician pulled the rabbit from his hat.”
“The scientists looked at the results in total astonishment, as the data contradicted their most recent theory.”
“The sudden appearance of the long-lost heir caused a profound sense of astonishment among the gathered nobles, who had not seen him in over fifty years.”
Examples
simple
“The crowd stood in astonishment as the magician pulled the rabbit from his hat.”
contextual
“The scientists looked at the results in total astonishment, as the data contradicted their most recent theory.”
complex
“The sudden appearance of the long-lost heir caused a profound sense of astonishment among the gathered nobles, who had not seen him in over fifty years.”
Real-World Examples
“There’s a baby on the field,” Apple TV analyst Kyndra de St Aubin could be heard saying in astonishment on the broadcast.” “As Badenoch delivered this answer, some journalists reacted with astonishment.” Etymology
From astonish + -ment.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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