surprisingsur‧pris‧ing /səˈpraɪzɪŋ $ sər-/ ●●● S3 W3 adjective 
She told me a surprising thing. A surprising number of his paintings have survived.it is surprising (that) It is not surprising that most parents experience occasional difficulties.it is surprising how/what etc It’s surprising how quickly you get used to things. It is hardly surprising that new mothers often suffer from depression.THESAURUSsurprising making you feel surprised: · It’s surprising how quickly you get used to it.· We got some very surprising results.astonishing/astounding very surprising. Astounding sounds a little more formal and a little stronger than astonishing: · The results of the tests were astounding.· Things are changing at an astonishing speed.extraordinary very unusual and surprising: · It is extraordinary that such a young boy should be so good at maths.amazing very surprising – used especially about good or impressive things: · an amazing achievement· It’s amazing what you can do when you really try.staggering very surprising, especially by being so large: · The project cost a staggering $8 million.unbelievable (also incredible) so surprising that you can hardly believe it: · It is unbelievable that she is only the same age as me.· The incredible thing is that he thinks he is ugly.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A surprising number of teenagers leave school without being able to read and write.
- In such a small town it was surprising to find so many really good restaurants.
- Liddy really didn't want to change school, but it was surprising how quickly she got used to the new one.
- Some of the conclusions in the report were quite surprising.
- There are a surprising number of taxis for such a small city.
- Wasn't it surprising that so few people came to the party?
- And it was surprising how frequently they found it necessary to motor down to Edmonton or Calgary.
- Even more surprising there are no stars: a deficiency which today usually condemns a climb to total obscurity.
- It is a particularly surprising conclusion for so reductionist a subject as physics.
- It wasn't surprising that her path and Guido's hadn't crossed.
- This is surprising in view of the fact that over a longer term measurements can vary by much more than this.
- Whether it also explains the equally surprising surge in menswear demand is less clear.
- Which, given the way Wally rambles on, is scarcely surprising.
THESAURUS
making you feel surprised: · It’s surprising how quickly you get used to it.· We got some very surprising results.
very surprising. Astounding sounds a little more formal and a little stronger than astonishing: · The results of the tests were astounding.· Things are changing at an astonishing speed.
very unusual and surprising: · It is extraordinary that such a young boy should be so good at maths.
very surprising – used especially about good or impressive things: · an amazing achievement· It’s amazing what you can do when you really try.
very surprising, especially by being so large: · The project cost a staggering $8 million.
(also incredible) so surprising that you can hardly believe it: · It is unbelievable that she is only the same age as me.· The incredible thing is that he thinks he is ugly.
Longman Language Activatorsurprised if you are surprised by something that happens, you do not expect it, so it seems strange or unusual: · I was really surprised when I passed my driving test first time.· Carrie looked surprised. "I didn't expect to see you here!"· We couldn't help laughing at the children's surprised faces.surprised to see/hear/learn etc: · We were surprised to see Drew's picture in the newspaper.surprised (that): · I'm really surprised that he remembered my birthday.surprised at: · When I saw him again, I was surprised at how much older he looked.surprised by: · Julia seemed a little surprised by my question.pleasantly surprised (=surprised when something unexpectedly good happens): · His exam results were great - we were all very pleasantly surprised.
use this about something that surprises you so much you almost cannot believe it: · Liz was amazed when she found out how much dinner had cost.amazed that: · I'm amazed that the bank keeps lending him money.amazed to see/learn/find out etc: · We were amazed to see John looking so well, so soon after his operation.amazed at/by: · She couldn't help feeling amazed at his stupidity.amazed by: · You'll be amazed by how much progress we've made.
extremely surprised by something that happens, because it is very unusual or strange: · Mark was astonished when he read the message - what on earth could she mean?· We climbed out of the hole right in front of two astounded policemen.astonished/astounded (that): · It was an extremely nasty accident and I was astonished that anyone had survived it.astonished/astounded at/by: · Everton admits to being astounded at the popularity of the book.astonished/astounded to hear/see/discover etc: · The whole town was astounded to hear of a plan to build an office building right next to the lake.
to be so surprised or shocked by what someone has done or said that, for a moment, you do not know what to say: · I was taken aback to find an elderly woman sitting inside the door of the men's room.be taken aback by: · I was completely taken aback by his aggressive and unreasonable attitude.
especially written surprised and a little frightened or worried because of something that has suddenly happened or something that someone said: · "Have we met somewhere before?" The man looked startled for a moment.startled by: · They were startled by a sudden flash in the sky.
informal so surprised by something that has happened that you do not know what to say: · The delivery men just left the furniture in my front yard. I was flabbergasted.flabbergasted at/by: · Doctors said they were flabbergasted at the decision to close the hospital.
if you can't get over something that has happened, you are so surprised by it that you cannot believe it: · Madge couldn't get over how much Joe had grown since she'd last seen him.· I can't get over how much she eats - why doesn't she gain any weight?
especially spoken say this when you are very surprised by something because it does not seem possible: can't believe it: · I can't believe it! Jane and Richard are getting married.can't believe (that): · She was a brilliant pianist -- we couldn't believe she was only 15.can't believe your eyes/ears: · The letter invited me to fly first class to New York for an interview on Monday - I could not believe my eyes!
a feeling of being surprised: somebody's surprise · You can imagine my surprise when I saw my sister's photograph on a magazine cover.surprise at · I expressed some surprise at the elaborate welcome which had been prepared for me.in/with surprise · Sam stared at his girlfriend in surprise. "What are you doing here?'' he asked.to somebody's surprise/to the surprise of somebody · To everyone's complete surprise, the Labour Party lost the election.
a feeling of great surprise, especially because something has happened that you almost cannot believe: in/with amazement: · Fans looked on in amazement as Robbins missed a third goal for the team.· Nina looked at me with amazement. "I don't believe you," she said.to somebody's amazement/to the amazement of somebody: · To our amazement, when we returned to China, the Moso tree had grown an impressive ninety feet.
a feeling of great surprise, especially at something you have seen or something someone has told you: · You should have seen the look of astonishment on his face!in/with astonishment: · Everyone gasped in astonishment as the cars came around the last bend.to somebody's astonishment/to the astonishment of somebody: · To everyone's astonishment, more than 100 people volunteered to help that day.
so surprised that you cannot speak so surprised, by something very good or very bad, that you do not know what to say: · When I told him I was pregnant, he was totally speechless.· Brian's remark left his boss speechless with anger.
to feel so surprised and full of emotion that you are unable to speak: · She rang me and told me that Tom had died. For once in my life I was lost for words.· When I saw the devastation from our window in the morning, I was at a loss for words.
so surprised by something unexpected that has happened that you are confused and unable to speak: · I just remember feeling dumbstruck when I heard that John Lennon was dead.· Suddenly the stewardess started screaming while the passengers watched, dumbfounded.
British informal so surprised that you cannot speak: · "How did you feel when you heard that your wife was expecting triplets?" "Gobsmacked - absolutely gobsmacked."
to make someone surprised · Diana's reaction surprised him - he hadn't realized that she was so upset.· The exam was actually quite easy, which surprised me.what surprises somebody is · What surprised me most was how cheap everything was compared to at home.it surprises somebody that · I have to say, it surprises me that they haven't gone bankrupt before now.surprise yourself (=do something that you thought you could not do, so that you are surprised) · Why don't you just have a go at skiing? You might surprise yourself.
if something is a surprise , or if it comes as a surprise , it surprises you: · "Bob and Linda are getting divorced.'' "That's a surprise -- they seemed like the perfect couple.''· The firing of the team's star pitcher came as a surprise to fans and sports writers alike.a complete surprise (=a big surprise): · My brother's sudden visit home was a complete surprise.be a surprise/come as a surprise to somebody: · The announcement of his resignation was a complete surprise to everyone in the office.it comes as a surprise to see/learn/find etc: · It comes as a surprise to learn what a high rate of illiteracy there is in this country.
to make someone feel extremely surprised, especially because something is very hard to believe: · Dave amazed his friends by leaving a well-paid job to travel around the world.it amazes somebody that: · It amazes me that no-one has thought of the idea sooner.
to make someone feel extremely surprised: · My father's reaction astounded me. How could he be so calm!· Tammy astonished her doctors by learning to walk again within weeks of the accident.· They astounded audiences with their fanciful costumes and their fascinating tales.what astonishes/astounds somebody is: · What astonishes me is how incredibly inefficient so many companies seem to be.
also catch somebody by surprise American if something takes you by surprise , it happens at a time when you are not expecting it: · The President's resignation took everyone by surprise.· The vehemence of her response took me by surprise.
making you feel surprised · A surprising number of teenagers leave school without being able to read and write.· Some of the conclusions in the report were quite surprising.it is surprising (that) · Wasn't it surprising that so few people came to the party?it is surprising to see/find/ learn etc · In such a small town it was surprising to find so many really good restaurants.it is surprising how/what etc · Liddy really didn't want to change school, but it was surprising how quickly she got used to the new one.
very surprising - use this especially about something very good or impressive: · Hong Kong is an absolutely amazing city.· What an amazing achievement!it is amazing how/what: · It's amazing how much work you can do in a day if you put your mind to it.it is amazing that: · After 2000 years, it's amazing that the inscriptions are still clear enough to read.it's amazing to see/find/think etc: · Isn't it amazing to think that men have actually stood on the moon?
something that is astonishing or astounding is so surprising that it is difficult to believe: · If you watch the way a spider makes its web, it's really astonishing.· The submarine was moving through the water at an astonishing speed.· The results of the tests were astounding.· In the area around London, house prices rose by an astounding 200 per cent in three years.it is astonishing/astounding that: · It was astounding that, as a mother, Sally also managed to do two jobs.it is astonishing how/what: · It's astonishing how much things have changed since the arrival of computers.it is astonishing to find/think/realize etc: · Isn't it astonishing to think that people may one day live for hundreds of years?
extremely surprising and difficult to believe: · He's so rude. It's unbelievable!· Over the next two weeks, we saw an incredible change in her character.it is unbelievable/incredible that: · They were driving much too fast. It's incredible that no-one was hurt.it is unbelievable how/what: · I think it was really unbelievable how he went on deceiving her for all those years.it is unbelievable to see/think/realize etc: · It's unbelievable to think how slow things were in the days before e-mail.
something that is unexpected makes you feel surprised because you did not expect it to happen or be true: · Her decision to leave was completely unexpected.· The new drug comes from an unexpected source -- potatoes.· Ella's angry outburst was so unexpected that Mike really didn't know what to say.
a startling fact is one that you would never have expected to be true: · There has been a startling increase in the numbers of homeless people.· The programme documents startling new theories about the way the universe began.
a staggering number or amount is very surprising because it is so large: · Apparently, we spend a staggering £2.4 billion a year on food for our pets.· a staggering rise in crime· The results of the survey were staggering - over half the children said that they went to school without any breakfast.
informal something that is mind-boggling is so big, strange, or complicated that it is almost impossible to imagine or believe: · The amount of money that some countries spend on weapons is mind-boggling.· His salary is nothing compared to the mind-boggling figures earned by some sportsmen.it is mind-boggling to think/realize etc: · It's mind-boggling to think that our solar system is only one among billions.
something that happens which surprises you something that you did not expect, especially something nice: it is a surprise: · It was a real surprise when Tony walked in. We thought he was still in America.· We've got Katie a bike for her birthday, but don't tell her - it's a surprise.a complete surprise (=one that you did not expect at all): · Anita didn't expect to get the job - it came as a complete surprise.as a surprise: · Apparently her husband bought her the car as an anniversary surprise.what a surprise! spoken: · Flowers? For me! What a lovely surprise!
something bad or unpleasant that happens to you that you did not expect: · "The bill came to £500." "That must have been a shock."get a shock: · We got a terrible shock when the police rang to say that they had arrested our daughter.give somebody a shock: · It gave me a shock when I realized how close I had come to being killed.
happening unexpectedly so that people are surprised: · Josh's friends gave him a surprise party to celebrate his 21st birthday.· The US were concerned about the possibility of a surprise attack by air or by sea.· Later, there was a surprise appearance by Schwazenneger himself.
unpleasantly surprising because the result is different from what you expected: · Liverpool suffered a shock defeat at Halifax last night, beaten by five goals to nil.· The chairman made a shock announcement that 500 employees would lose their jobs.
not surprising if something is not surprising or hardly surprising , you are not surprised by it because the situation makes it very likely to happen: · Now she's frightened to go out at night, which is hardly surprising after what happened to her.it is not surprising/hardly surprising (that): · It's not surprising that you're tired - you've been out every night this week.
if something is no surprise or comes as no surprise , you are not surprised when it happens, because you expected it to happen: it is no surprise/it comes as no surprise: · It came as no surprise when President Santos announced his resignation.· Both Jade's parents are doctors so it was no surprise when she went to medical school.be no surprise/come as no surprise that: · After years of struggle, it came as no surprise that the company went bankrupt.be no surprise/come as no surprise to: · It was no surprise to anyone when they finally said that they were getting a divorce.
spoken say this when you are not surprised about something bad that has happened because you can clearly see the reasons for it: · "I'm starving." "I'm not surprised, you haven't eaten all day.''I'm not surprised (that): · I'm not surprised that she's fed up with him.
spoken say this when you realize the reason why something happened, so that it is not surprising any more: · No wonder my camera wasn't working - there's no battery in it!
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY It is hardly surprising that new mothers often suffer from depression.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES It’s hardly surprising that she won’t answer his calls after the way he’s treated her.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
It is hardly surprising that new mothers often suffer from depression.· After years of research, he reached a startling conclusion.
· Their work led to some surprising discoveries.
It’s hardly surprising that she won’t answer his calls after the way he’s treated her.· The reductivist enterprise thus inevitably comes to grief, and it is not altogether surprising that it does.· The absence of reference to a division of the southern province, therefore, is not altogether surprising.· Russell's findings are not altogether surprising.
· Huh, it's hardly surprising.· The overall tone is warm and woody - hardly surprising when you consider the sheer mass of wood involved!· It is hardly surprising that many children eventually acquire a similar attitude towards the relevance of mathematics.· Orderic's attitude is hardly surprising.· It is hardly surprising, therefore, that many women returners are confused about what kind of job to look for.· If we think about it this is hardly surprising.· This is hardly surprising since these styles are not fixed and intractable.· It was too much like being in the Army - which, on reflection, was hardly surprising.
· It is more surprising that Bourgchier accepted the role of go-between.· But more surprising than his lack of academic prowess was his failure to make any other sort of impact.· A second and rather more surprising method of managed information-flows is know how trading.· It is a bit more surprising, however, when that dealer disappears without a trace.· Even more surprising is Glenny's attempt to fudge the fundamental issues of the Balkan conflict.· Even more surprising there are no stars: a deficiency which today usually condemns a climb to total obscurity.· Hufton notes more surprising instances of widows continuing in their husbands' occupation as gaolers.· What was more surprising was that he brought a wife with him.
· Many found her consistent equilibrium the most surprising of her many qualities.· Her black and white study of proud Paul holding Mary is the most surprising.· But the most surprising fact about this is that all these events took place during the deposition of a single graptolite zone.· Apart from that, life had taught her to pry because sometimes doing so turned up the most surprising things.· To judge from this book, the most surprising thing about the paper is that it did not collapse long ago.· Perhaps most surprising was the high percentage - 73% - who came to discuss subject work with the librarian.· But there are new Giants, perhaps the most surprising of them being Joanna Trollope.· In an obvious sense, this is a most surprising justification.
· If so, it is perhaps surprising that a threat of a mere breach of contract should give rise to liability.· It is perhaps surprising, therefore, that ascorbic acid, a known reducing agent, can precipitate haemolysis.· It is perhaps surprising that circulating concentrations of both peptides rise within 15 minutes after eating.· It is not perhaps surprising that the source of substitution should have come from the traditional opposition group, the Bani Hashem.· In this environment it is perhaps surprising that the early factories should have received such hostile criticism.· Its clear narrative thrust is appropriate for the subject, though perhaps surprising in a novel by a poet.· None the less it is perhaps surprising that the librarian has not crossed swords with the law over obscene and indecent literature before now.
· Daedalus finds all this rather surprising, for water is an extremely bad lubricant.· This has a rather surprising implication.· Secondly, the deciduous woodland that eventually takes over has a rather surprising composition.· Actually, it is rather surprising that the labour cost hasn't gone up more, especially in view of the national rates.· Nabokov was wrong - rather surprising, this - about the phonetics of the name Lolita.· What he discovered was rather surprising.· And she was Rabelaisian, rather surprising, liberated fun.· Since the management is accountable and is producing the information, it would be rather surprising if it were otherwise.
· The crew seemed happy, which was not really surprising.· It is not really surprising that animal diseases are increasing when we consider the Government's deliberate run-down of their veterinary service.· But the really surprising thing about the research is how similar the two sets of readers are in their tastes.· It is really surprising the number of obscure groups who will get together for a celebration.· So it wasn't really surprising that we didn't recognise Ollie when we got into the arrivals hall.· But it's not really surprising that this accommodation should come to pass.
· Since the principal function of grammar is to indicate how units of meaning are to be combined, this is scarcely surprising.· Such a preference is scarcely surprising but may be difficult to accommodate in specially designated homes and hostels.· Which, given the way Wally rambles on, is scarcely surprising.· It is scarcely surprising that popes did not like calling Councils.· It is scarcely surprising that opt-out schools are apprehensive.· Given that people had no rational basis for choosing among candidates, it was scarcely surprising they used one they deemed natural.
· That, in a dream, wasn't so surprising.· But perhaps it was not so surprising.· Considering the size of their natural prey - small mice and birds - this is not so surprising.· But the fact that so few rooms stand out in my memory is not so surprising.· They claim it can relieve migraine and sinusitis and not so surprising, remove ear wax.· Perhaps, then, it wasn't so surprising that Lorne had one or two funny ideas about himself.· Constantine's position was not so surprising in an essentially pagan potentate of warlike disposition.
· He had in fact conducted it with a somewhat surprising degree of determination.· While at University Glass's musical taste was somewhat surprising.· This is somewhat surprising given primate evidence that the colliculus receives substantial uncrossed input.
· This is not very surprising when we consider that most joint ventures appear not to be entirely voluntary.· That Elizabeth Woodville submitted is therefore perhaps not very surprising.· None of this is very surprising, actually.· Given that not all subjects knew the junctions well previously this is not very surprising.· They are very surprising and daring.· Some of their early findings are very surprising.· Of course, he never saw anything very surprising - until that afternoon.· Not that it's so very surprising.
NOUN· Focused effort and determination can yield a surprising amount of information but the motivation has to he high.· The Jam and Lewis soundtrack powers up some fairly physical action sequences, and there is a surprising amount of killings.· Berlin has a surprising amount of open space including the beautiful Grunewald Forest.· Most will provide an adequate fountain, but a surprising amount of water is required to operate a satisfactory waterfall.· In the acoustic shop, a surprising amount of work is carried out by hand.· Of course they were package tours though he seems to have spent a surprising amount on this one.· A surprising amount of work to be found in the island does, however, show their influence.
· There is a surprising number of medieval houses still standing, sometimes quite unexpectedly awaiting discovery.· A surprising number of systems have neither of these.· This has a surprising number of advantages, beyond the obvious saving of paper, though there are disadvantages too.· I was invited to open functions in various parts of the Yorkshire Dales and quite a surprising number of people turned up.· For a horse who has a fairly relaxed outlook on life, Milton has a surprising number of phobias.· On close investigation, we often find a surprising number of elements in different subject courses that interrelate.· Bedyngham's music survives in a surprising number of different manuscripts, especially his secular songs.· The distinctive area of the single television play has produced a surprising number of allusions to homosexuality.
· The changing distributions between 1970 and 1980 on this index have been calculated for over 100 countries, with some surprising results.· Matrix isolation has given some surprising results in the study of vapours from molten salts.· Amongst the YCs, the lack of suitable volunteers can lead to surprising results.· It is the species in which this curious behaviour has been studied most thoroughly, with some surprising results.· This interesting and surprising result awaits replication.· Sometimes, though, the outcome of the advertisers' work has surprising results.
· But he has found at least one surprising thing.· Apart from that, life had taught her to pry because sometimes doing so turned up the most surprising things.· To judge from this book, the most surprising thing about the paper is that it did not collapse long ago.· The only surprising thing was that it was all less irksome than he had imagined.· Wickham's initial feeling was that if it were true the only surprising thing was that Barron had not flown away sooner.· The surprising thing is that he published this anonymously.· The only surprising thing about the Life was the scale of its failure.· As with labour costs, the surprising thing is that the total overheads haven't increased by more.
WORD FAMILYadjectivesurprisedsurprising ≠ unsurprisingnounsurpriseverbsurpriseadverbsurprisingly ≠ unsurprisingly
unusual or unexpected: She told me a surprising thing. A surprising number of his paintings have survived.it is surprising (that) It is not surprising that most parents experience occasional difficulties.it is surprising how/what etc It’s surprising how quickly you get used to things. It is hardly surprising that new mothers often suffer from depression.THESAURUSsurprising making you feel surprised: · It’s surprising how quickly you get used to it.· We got some very surprising results.astonishing/astounding very surprising. Astounding sounds a little more formal and a little stronger than astonishing: · The results of the tests were astounding.· Things are changing at an astonishing speed.extraordinary very unusual and surprising: · It is extraordinary that such a young boy should be so good at maths.amazing very surprising – used especially about good or impressive things: · an amazing achievement· It’s amazing what you can do when you really try.staggering very surprising, especially by being so large: · The project cost a staggering $8 million.unbelievable (also incredible) so surprising that you can hardly believe it: · It is unbelievable that she is only the same age as me.· The incredible thing is that he thinks he is ugly.