Word
surprisingly
Phoneticssur·pris·ing·ly, stress on the second syllable
US/səˈpɹaɪzɪŋɫi/
UK/səpɹˈaɪzɪŋli/
Sentence adverb
Definition
adv. used to say that something is unexpected or different from what you thought. You use it to show that a fact is a bit of a shock.
adv. in a manner that causes astonishment or wonder because it is unexpected. Often functions as a disjunct to express the speaker's attitude toward the following statement.
Examples
“The exam was surprisingly easy.”
“Surprisingly, the small restaurant was completely full on a Tuesday night.”
“The results of the study were surprisingly consistent across different age groups, despite the researchers' initial hypothesis that older participants would respond more conservatively.”
Examples
simple
“The exam was surprisingly easy.”
contextual
“Surprisingly, the small restaurant was completely full on a Tuesday night.”
complex
“The results of the study were surprisingly consistent across different age groups, despite the researchers' initial hypothesis that older participants would respond more conservatively.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “surprisingly” in context.
Usage
When modifying an entire sentence, it usually appears at the beginning followed by a comma; otherwise, it sits immediately before the adjective or adverb it modifies.
Pitfall
It was a surprisingly movie.
It was a surprisingly good movie.
As an adverb, it must modify an adjective, verb, or another adverb, rather than a noun directly.
Etymology
From surprising + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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