# bowled

/ˈboʊɫd/ (US) · /bˈəʊld/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bowled
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

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

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

## Examples

- I was completely bowled over by her kindness.
- The young artist was bowled over when a famous gallery offered to host his first solo exhibition.
- 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I was bowled by the news" but "I was bowled over by the news" — In the sense of being surprised, the verb requires the particle 'over' to complete the meaning.

## Usage notes

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

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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.