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surprising
/səɹˈpɹaɪzɪŋ/
unexpected or astonishing
It was surprising to see snow in April.
Seeing snow in April was not expected.
neutral
causing surprise; unexpected or astonishing
The magician's trick was surprising to the audience.
The audience found the magician's trick astonishing.
She gave a surprising answer to the question.
Her response was unexpected and caught everyone off guard.
Used to describe events, actions, or information that are not anticipated or defy expectations.
Collocations
surprising resultan outcome that is unexpectedsurprising newsinformation that is shocking or unexpectedsurprisingly goodbetter than expected
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'very surprising'
Instead of 'very surprising,' use stronger synonyms like 'astonishing,' 'astounding,' or 'mind-blowing' for emphasis.
Gold Rule
Use 'surprising' for positive or neutral contexts
'Surprising' can describe both positive surprises (e.g., 'a surprising victory') and negative ones (e.g., 'a surprising defeat'), but it leans slightly more positive in tone.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'surprenant', from Old French 'surprenant' (present participle of 'surprendre'), from 'sur-' (over) + 'prendre' (to take). Literally 'to take over unawares.'
Usage Notes
Commonly used to describe events or information that are not anticipated. Often followed by 'to' when introducing the subject affected (e.g., 'surprising to me').
Word Breakdown
surprise
unexpected event or feeling
root-ing
forms an adjective from a verb
suffixEnglish Dictionary