Cool MateAmazed vs Can't believe
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Amazed
Top 2,000 (common)B1adjective
Can't believe
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Amazed
| Amazed | Can't believe | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈmeɪzd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈmeɪzd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //kɑːnt bɪˈliːv//🇺🇸 //kænt bɪˈliv// |
| Meaning | Very surprised or impressed. | to be very surprised or shocked by something |
| Example | I was amazed by the stunning performance of the dancers. | I can't believe you won the lottery! |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, look, seem, absolutely, completely, just, at, by, continue to be amazed, never cease to be amazed, shocked and amazed | can't believe my eyes, can't believe it's true, can't believe you did that, can't believe how fast, can't believe what happened |
| Antonyms | unimpressed, bored | can believe, accept, trust, have faith in |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'amazing' – 'amazed' describes a feeling, while 'amazing' describes something that causes that feeling., Using 'amazed' without an object – remember to express what caused the amazement., Overusing in casual conversation – save for moments of genuine surprise. | Using 'don't believe' instead of 'can't believe'., Confusing it with 'can believe' which has a different meaning., Omitting the object after 'can't believe'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'amazed' to describe feelings of wonder or admiration. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using it in casual or playful settings where lighter expressions like 'wow' might be better. | Used when expressing disbelief or shock. Common in everyday conversation. Avoid in very formal writing. |
Frequently asked questions: Amazed vs Can't believe
What's the difference between Amazed and Can't believe?
Amazed: Very surprised or impressed. Can't believe: to be very surprised or shocked by something
Which is more common: Amazed and Can't believe?
Amazed is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Amazed: I was amazed by the stunning performance of the dancers. Can't believe: I can't believe you won the lottery!
Can I use Amazed and Can't believe interchangeably?
Not always. Amazed and Can't believe are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.