ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bowled

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈboʊɫd// UK //bˈəʊld// bowled

adj. feeling very surprised, impressed, or shocked by something. You use this when something is so unexpected that you don't know what to say.

adj. feeling overwhelmed by surprise, admiration, or shock. Often used predicatively after linking verbs such as 'be', 'feel', or 'seem'.


SIMPLE

I was completely bowled over by her kindness.

CONTEXTUAL

The young artist was bowled over when a famous gallery offered to host his first solo exhibition.

COMPLEX

Even the most cynical critics were bowled over by the debut performance, which combined technical mastery with an unexpected emotional depth that resonated throughout the hall.

Synonyms
Usage

Typically used in the phrasal form 'bowled over' to describe a state of surprise.

Pitfall

I was bowled by the newsI was bowled over by the newsIn the sense of being surprised, the verb requires the particle 'over' to complete the meaning.

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