Cool MateAstonishing vs It was amazing
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Astonishing
Top 3,000 (common)B2adjective
It was amazing
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: It was amazing
| Astonishing | It was amazing | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈstɒnɪʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈstɑːnɪʃɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɪt wəz əˈmeɪzɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ɪt wəz əˈmeɪzɪŋ// |
| Meaning | Very surprising or amazing. | It was very good or impressive. |
| Example | She ran 100m in an astonishing 10.6 seconds. | The performance was simply amazing. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, seem, find something, really, truly, absolutely | absolutely amazing, quite amazing, truly amazing, simply amazing |
| Antonyms | unimpressive, ordinary, mundane | - |
| Common mistakes | Used too casually in informal situations., Confused with 'astonished', which describes a feeling rather than something that causes astonishment., Overused in contexts where 'surprising' or 'impressive' might be more appropriate. | Using 'amazing' incorrectly in past tense contexts., Confusing 'amazing' with weaker adjectives like 'nice'., Using it in overly formal situations where a stronger adjective is preferred. |
| Usage notes | Use 'astonishing' to describe something that causes great surprise or wonder. It's suitable for both spoken and written contexts, but may be less common in casual everyday conversations. | Use 'It was amazing' to express strong approval or delight. Appropriate in casual conversation, as well as in writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Astonishing vs It was amazing
What's the difference between Astonishing and It was amazing?
Astonishing: Very surprising or amazing. It was amazing: It was very good or impressive.
Which is more common: Astonishing and It was amazing?
It was amazing is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Astonishing: She ran 100m in an astonishing 10.6 seconds. It was amazing: The performance was simply amazing.
Can I use Astonishing and It was amazing interchangeably?
Not always. Astonishing and It was amazing 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.