English Reference
Noun

astonishment

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /əˈstɑnɪʃmənt/ UK /ɐstˈɒnɪʃmənt/ as·ton·ish·ment UK spelling astonishments

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.


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.

There’s a baby on the field,” Apple TV analyst Kyndra de St Aubin could be heard saying in astonishment on the broadcast.

The Guardian· 24 Aug 2026

As Badenoch delivered this answer, some journalists reacted with astonishment.

The Guardian· 3 Sept 2026

From astonish + -ment.

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

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated