# astonishment

/əˈstɑnɪʃmənt/ (US) · /ɐstˈɒnɪʃmənt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

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

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

---

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.