# bewildered

/bɪˈwɪɫdɝd/ (US) · /bɪwˈɪldəd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bewildered
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

feeling very confused and not sure what is happening. You feel this way when something is too complicated or strange to understand.

For teachers: feeling extreme confusion or disorientation. Often used predicatively after linking verbs such as 'look', 'feel', or 'seem'.

## Examples

- He had a bewildered look on his face.
- The tourists stood in the middle of the busy station, looking bewildered by the complex train schedule.
- Even the most experienced scientists were left bewildered by the test results, which appeared to contradict every established law of physics they had previously relied upon.

## Usage notes

- Commonly follows linking verbs; often paired with the preposition 'by'.

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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.