Word
shocker
Phoneticsshock·er, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈʃɑkɝ/
UK/ʃˈɒkɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. something that is very surprising or upsetting. You use this word when a piece of news or an event is much more shocking than you expected.
n. An event, piece of news, or action that causes a sudden and intense feeling of surprise or dismay. Often used in journalism to describe unexpected sports results or scandals.
Examples
“The final score was a real shocker.”
“It was a total shocker when the favorite to win the race finished in last place.”
“The morning headlines delivered a absolute shocker, revealing that the CEO had resigned effective immediately following the audit results.”
Examples
simple
“The final score was a real shocker.”
contextual
“It was a total shocker when the favorite to win the race finished in last place.”
complex
“The morning headlines delivered a absolute shocker, revealing that the CEO had resigned effective immediately following the audit results.”
Usage
Often used with the adjective 'real' or 'total' for emphasis.
Etymology
From shock + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/shocker