surprise
Something unexpected.
Noun 2 meanings
Something unexpected.
“It was a surprise to find out I owed twice as much as I thought.”
The feeling that something unexpected has happened.
“Imagine my surprise on learning I owed twice as much as I thought I did.”
Verb 4 meanings
To cause (someone) to feel unusually alarmed or delighted by something unexpected.
“It surprises me that I owe twice as much as I thought I did.”
To do something to (a person) that they are not expecting, as a surprise.
“He doesn’t know that I’m in the country – I thought I’d turn up at his house and surprise him.”
To undergo or witness something unexpected.
“He doesn’t surprise easily.”
To cause surprise.
Interjection 2 meanings
Drawing attention to a surprising action by oneself.
“"Surprise!" we shouted as we jumped out from the cupboard. "Happy birthday!"”
Drawing attention to something that should have been obvious.
Etymology
From Middle English surprise, borrowed from Middle French surprise (“an overtake”), nominal use of the past participle of Old French sorprendre (“to overtake”), from sor- (“over”) + prendre (“to take”), from Latin super- + Latin prendere, contracted from prehendere (“to grasp, seize”). Doublet of suppli.
Similar and opposite words
SURPRISE at a glance
SURPRISE has 8 letters and scores 10 points in Scrabble (S 1 + U 1 + R 1 + P 3 + R 1 + I 1 + S 1 + E 1) and 12 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #1,794 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with surprise
All rhymesOne letter away
- SURPRIZE19
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