surprising
- 01 A2 Elementary
adj.causing you to feel surprised because you did not expect it.
adj.causing astonishment or wonder due to being unexpected or unusual.
Simple“It was surprising that the small shop had exactly what I needed.”
In context“The researchers found a surprising correlation between sleep patterns and creative output, which challenged several long-held assumptions in the field.”
Usageusually placed before a noun or after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'.
PitfallI am very surprising by the news. I am very surprised by the news.Use 'surprising' for the thing that causes the feeling, and 'surprised' for the person who has the feeling.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
n.the act of surprising someone or the state of being surprised.
n.the gerundial use of the verb, referring to the action of catching someone off guard or the experience of astonishment.
Simple“The surprising of the enemy was the main goal of the secret mission.”
In context“The sudden surprising of the guests by the host's announcement led to a momentary silence in the ballroom.”
Usageoften functions as a verbal noun in formal or literary contexts.
Synonyms
surprising vs surprised — Surprised is the feeling a person has; surprising is the quality of the thing that caused it.
Usage surprising discovery
From surprise + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.