English Reference
adjective · noun

shocking

adj. · n.
US /ˈʃɑkɪŋ/ UK /ʃˈɒkɪŋ/ shock·ing

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    adj.very surprising and usually upsetting or offensive.

    adj.causing a feeling of intense surprise, horror, or disgust. Often used to describe news or behavior that violates social or moral expectations.

    Simple

    The news of the accident was truly shocking to everyone in the small town.

    In context

    The documentary revealed shocking evidence of corruption at the highest levels of the regional government, sparking immediate public protests.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate British EnglishInformal

    adj.extremely bad or of very low quality.

    adj.of an exceptionally poor standard or quality. This sense is frequently used in informal British English to express strong disapproval.

    Simple

    The weather during our holiday was absolutely shocking; it rained every single day.

    In context

    The team's performance in the first half was shocking, characterized by a complete lack of coordination and several unforced errors.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Technical Medicine

    n.the act of giving someone an electric shock.

    n.the application of an electric current to a person or animal, often in a medical or experimental context.

    Simple

    The doctor explained that the shocking of the heart could help it beat normally again.

    In context

    The protocol for the experiment involved the controlled shocking of nerve endings to measure the subjects' involuntary response times.

    electrocution

One in six students is a shocking statistic, and the response needs to recognize this.

Phys.org· 15 Aug 2026

It was a big moment which caused big companies to reflect on their own systems - and, in some cases, check they hadn't missed something similarly shocking.

BBC News· 6 Aug 2026

From shock + -ing.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated