/ səˈpraɪz; NAmE sərˈp-/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] an event, a piece of news, etc. that is unexpected or that happens suddenly :
What a nice surprise!
a surprise attack
There are few surprises in this year's budget.
I have a surprise for you!
It comes as no surprise to learn that they broke their promises.
Her letter came as a complete surprise .
There are lots of surprises in store for visitors to the gallery.
Visitors to the gallery are in for a few surprises .
2.
[ U , C ] surprise (at sth) | surprise (at seeing, hearing, etc.) a feeling caused by sth happening suddenly or unexpectedly :
a look of surprise
She looked up in surprise .
He gasped with surprise at her strength.
They couldn't conceal their surprise at seeing us together.
I got a surprise when I saw the bill.
Much to my surprise , I passed.
To everyone's surprise , the plan succeeded.
Imagine our surprise when he walked into the room!
3.
[ U ] the use of methods that cause feelings of surprise :
A successful campaign should have an element of surprise .
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IDIOMS
- surprise, surprise
- take sb/sth by surprise
- take sb by surprise
■ verb
1.
to make sb feel surprised :
[ vn ]
It wouldn't surprise me if they got married soon.
[ vn wh- ]
It's always surprised me how popular he is.
[ vn that ]
It surprises me that you've never sung professionally.
[ vn to inf ]
Would it surprise you to know that I'm thinking of leaving?
2.
[ vn ] to attack, discover, etc., sb suddenly and unexpectedly :
The army attacked at night to surprise the rebels.
We arrived home early and surprised a burglar trying to break in.
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SYNONYMS
surprise
startle ♦ amaze ♦ stun ♦ astonish ♦ take sb aback ♦ astound
These words all mean to make to make sb feel surprised.
surprise
to give sb the feeling that you get when sth happens that you do not expect or do not understand, or sth that you do expect does not happen; to make sb feel surprised:
The outcome didn't surprise me at all.
startle
to surprise sb suddenly in a way that slightly shocks or frightens them:
Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.
•
The explosion startled the horse.
amaze
to surprise sb very much:
Just the huge size of the place amazed her.
stun
( rather informal ) (often in newspapers) to surprise or shock sb so much that they cannot think clearly or speak
astonish
to surprise sb very much:
The news astonished everyone.
amaze or astonish?
These two words have the same meaning and in most cases you can use either. Astonish is in general slightly less frequent than amaze , but if you are talking about sth that both surprises you and makes you feel ashamed, it is more usual to use astonish :
He was astonished by his own stupidity.
take sb aback
[usually passive] (especially of sth negative) to surprise or shock sb:
We were rather taken aback by her hostile reaction.
astound
to surprise or shock sb very much:
His arrogance astounded her.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
It surprises sb / startles sb / amazes sb / stuns sb / astonishes sb / takes sb aback / astounds sb
to surprise / startle / amaze / stun / astonish / astound sb that...
to surprise / amaze sb what / how...
to surprise / startle / amaze / stun / astonish / astound sb to know / find / learn / see / hear...
to be surprised / startled / stunned into (doing) sth
to absolutely amaze sb / stun sb / astonish sb / astound sb
sth never ceases to surprise / amaze / astonish / astound sb
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense unexpected seizure of a place, or attack on troops ): from Old French , feminine past participle of surprendre , from medieval Latin superprehendere seize.