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Definition of surprising

surprising

/sɚˈpɹaɪ.zɪŋ/
sur · pris · ing
Adverb:surprisingly
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surprising Lexical Profile

surprising Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Causing mild astonishment, wonder, or shock because of being unexpected or unusual.

Example

"The research team made a surprising discovery while analyzing the soil samples."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for surprising

• Nearby Words

surplus
surprise
surprisedly
surprising
surprisingly
surreal
surrealism

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed from the verb 'surprise', which entered Middle English via Old French 'surprendre', meaning 'to overtake' or 'to seize unexpectedly', from 'sur-' (over) and 'prendre' (to take, from Latin 'prehendere').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Surprising. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/surprising
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