surprising

[ser-prahy-zing, suh-] /sərˈpraɪ zɪŋ, sə-/
adjective
1.
causing surprise, wonder, or astonishment.
2.
unexpected.
Origin
1570-80; surprise + -ing2
Related forms
surprisingly, adverb
unsurprising, adjective
unsurprisingly, adverb

surprise

[ser-prahyz, suh-] /sərˈpraɪz, sə-/
verb (used with object), surprised, surprising.
1.
to strike or occur to with a sudden feeling of wonder or astonishment, as through unexpectedness:
Her beauty surprised me.
2.
to come upon or discover suddenly and unexpectedly:
We surprised the children raiding the cookie jar.
3.
to make an unexpected assault on (an unprepared army, fort, person, etc.).
4.
to elicit or bring out suddenly and without warning:
to surprise the facts from the witness.
5.
to lead or bring unawares, as into doing something not intended:
to surprise a witness into telling the truth.
noun
6.
an act or instance of surprising or being surprised.
7.
something that surprises someone; a completely unexpected occurrence, appearance, or statement:
His announcement was a surprise to all.
8.
an assault, as on an army or a fort, made without warning.
9.
a coming upon unexpectedly; detecting in the act; taking unawares.
Idioms
10.
take by surprise,
  1. to come upon unawares.
  2. to astonish; amaze:
    The amount of the donation took us completely by surprise.
Origin
1425-75; (noun) late Middle English < Anglo-French surpris(e), Middle French, past participle of surprendre, equivalent to sur- sur-1 + pris (masculine), prise (feminine) < Latin prēnsus, -sa, equivalent to prēnd(ere), contracted variant of prehendere to take (see prehension) + -tus, -ta past participle suffix; (v.) late Middle English surprisen < Anglo-French surpris(e) (past participle), Middle French, as above
Related forms
surprisedly
[ser-prahy-zid-lee, -prahyzd-, suh-] /sərˈpraɪ zɪd li, -ˈpraɪzd-, sə-/ (Show IPA), adverb
surpriser, noun
supersurprise, noun
unsurprised, adjective
Synonyms
1. Surprise, astonish, amaze, astound mean to strike with wonder because of unexpectedness, strangeness, unusualness, etc. To surprise is to take unawares or to affect with wonder: surprised at receiving a telegram. To astonish is to strike with wonder by something unlooked for, startling, or seemingly inexplicable: astonished at someone's behavior. To amaze is to astonish so greatly as to disconcert or bewilder: amazed at such an evidence of stupidity. To astound is to so overwhelm with surprise that one is unable to think or act: astounded by the news.
Examples from the web for surprising
  • While at first this may be surprising, it is really not unexpected.
  • Go beyond the traditional bouquet of roses this year with these surprising choices.
  • It's a reliable recipe, but subtle changes produce surprising differences.
  • And what stronger instance can be produced of the surprising ignorance and weakness of the understanding than the present.
  • Much that is surprising might also be said of the sense of the dream and the dreamer's reaction to it.
  • The best-laid plans are sometimes upset by surprising snags.
  • Though you add millions, and never so surprising, the fact of mechanics has not gained a grain's weight.
  • Thus a piece of water-worn coral on the beach often bears a surprising likeness to a bread-fruit.
  • Common among many who desire a practical and healthy lunch, these small, decorative boxes can hold a surprising amount of food.
  • It's not surprising that each letter has affected me enough to cause stomach pains.
British Dictionary definitions for surprising

surprising

/səˈpraɪzɪŋ/
adjective
1.
causing surprise; unexpected or amazing
Derived Forms
surprisingly, adverb
surprisingness, noun

surprise

/səˈpraɪz/
verb (transitive)
1.
to cause to feel amazement or wonder
2.
to encounter or discover unexpectedly or suddenly
3.
to capture or assault suddenly and without warning
4.
to present with something unexpected, such as a gift
5.
(foll by into) to provoke (someone) to unintended action by a trick, etc: to surprise a person into an indiscretion
6.
(often foll by from) to elicit by unexpected behaviour or by a trick: to surprise information from a prisoner
noun
7.
the act or an instance of surprising; the act of taking unawares
8.
a sudden or unexpected event, gift, etc
9.
the feeling or condition of being surprised; astonishment
10.
(modifier) causing, characterized by, or relying upon surprise: a surprise move
11.
take by surprise
  1. to come upon suddenly and without warning
  2. to capture unexpectedly or catch unprepared
  3. to astonish; amaze
Derived Forms
surprisal, noun
surprised, adjective
surprisedly (səˈpraɪzɪdlɪ) adverb
surpriser, noun
Word Origin
C15: from Old French, from surprendre to overtake, from sur-1 + prendre from Latin prehendere to grasp; see prehensile
Word Origin and History for surprising

surprise

n.

late 14c., "unexpected attack or capture," from Middle French surprise "a taking unawares," from noun use of past participle of Old French surprendre "to overtake," from sur- "over" (see sur-) + prendre "to take," from Latin prendere, contracted from prehendere "to grasp, seize" (see prehensile). Meaning "something unexpected" first recorded 1590s, that of "feeling caused by something unexpected" is c.1600. Meaning "fancy dish" is attested from 1708.

A Surprize is ... a dish ... which promising little from its first appearance, when open abounds with all sorts of variety. [W. King, "Cookery," 1708]
Surprise party originally was a military detachment (1841); festive sense is attested from 1858.

v.

late 14c., from Anglo-French surprise, fem. past participle of surprendre (see surprise (n.)). Related: Surprised; surprising.

Slang definitions & phrases for surprising

surprise

interjection

An exclamation of feigned astonishment over something perfectly obvious or predictable: A study conducted by university researchers a year ago found that the Family Support Act was failing to change the welfare culture. Surprise/ There were two favorite spots for tots. Surprise surprise. The boys loved the little bosom rose (1953+)


Idioms and Phrases with surprising

surprise

see: take by surprise