# surprised

/səˈpɹaɪzd/ (US) · /səpɹˈaɪzd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. feeling surprise

adjective · CEFR A2

feeling or showing shock because something unexpected happened.

For teachers: experiencing or manifesting an emotional response to an unforeseen event or circumstance.

- I was surprised to see my old friend at the party last night.
- The researchers were surprised by the results of the study, as the data contradicted their initial hypothesis.

Usage: Often followed by the prepositions 'by' or 'at', or by a 'to' infinitive.

## Examples

- I was surprised to see my old friend at the party.
- She looked surprised when the waiter brought a cake to the table for her birthday.
- The researchers were surprised by the results of the study, as the data contradicted their initial hypothesis regarding consumer behavior in the region.

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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.