# surprise

/səˈpɹaɪz/ (US) · /səpɹˈaɪz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/surprise
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the feeling

noun · CEFR A2

the feeling you have when something happens that you did not expect.

For teachers: the emotional state or sensation of astonishment caused by an unexpected event.

- To my surprise, the shop was already open when I arrived early.
- Much to the surprise of the researchers, the initial data suggested a correlation that contradicted their primary hypothesis.

### 2. an unexpected event

noun · CEFR A2

an event, gift, or piece of news that you did not expect.

For teachers: an unexpected or astonishing event, fact, or thing.

- I have a little surprise for you in the car.
- The sudden resignation of the prime minister came as a complete surprise to the political establishment.

### 3. to amaze someone

verb · CEFR A2

to do something that someone does not expect, often making them feel happy or shocked.

For teachers: to cause someone to feel mild astonishment or shock by acting unexpectedly.

- We managed to surprise her with a beautiful birthday cake.
- The company's decision to double its annual dividend surprised even the most optimistic market analysts.

Usage: This verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

### 4. to catch unawares

verb · CEFR B2

to find or attack someone when they are not prepared.

For teachers: to encounter, attack, or discover someone unexpectedly or without warning.

- The sudden rainstorm surprised the hikers while they were on the ridge.
- The enemy forces were surprised in their camp before they had time to organize a proper defense.

### 6. sarcastic obviousness

interjection · CEFR B2 · Informal · Humorous

a word used to show you are not shocked because something was very obvious.

For teachers: a sarcastic exclamation used to indicate that a supposedly unexpected event was actually predictable.

- He forgot his keys again. Surprise, surprise.
- The billionaire avoided paying taxes for the tenth year in a row—surprise, surprise.

## Examples

- The party was a complete surprise to me.
- She looked up in surprise when the door suddenly flew open and her brother walked in.
- To the surprise of the scientific community, the initial data suggested that the planet's atmosphere was far more dense than previous models had predicted.

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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.