Word adjective
surprised
adj.
US /səˈpɹaɪzd/ UK /səpɹˈaɪzd/ sur·prised
Definition
- 01 A2 Elementary
feeling or showing shock because something unexpected happened.
experiencing or manifesting an emotional response to an unforeseen event or circumstance.
Simple“I was surprised to see my old friend at the party last night.”
In context“The researchers were surprised by the results of the study, as the data contradicted their initial hypothesis.”
UsageOften followed by the prepositions 'by' or 'at', or by a 'to' infinitive.
PitfallI am very surprising by the news. I am very surprised by the news.Use 'surprised' to describe how a person feels. Use 'surprising' to describe the thing that causes the feeling.
SynonymsAntonyms
Don't confuse
surprised vs surprising — Surprised is the feeling a person has; surprising is the quality of the thing that caused it.
This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Common
Updated