Cool MateAstonishing vs They were like wow
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Astonishing
Top 3,000 (common)B2adjective
They were like wow
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: AstonishingMost common: They were like wow
| Astonishing | They were like wow | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈstɒnɪʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈstɑːnɪʃɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðeɪ wə lʌɪk waʊ//🇺🇸 //ðeɪ wɜr laɪk waʊ// |
| Meaning | Very surprising or amazing. | They were very surprised or impressed. |
| Example | She ran 100m in an astonishing 10.6 seconds. | When I saw the stunning sunset, I was like wow. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| 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 | were like wow, felt like wow, sounded like wow, looked like wow, said like wow |
| 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 in formal writing or speeches., Confusing 'like' as a filler word with its intended meaning., Omitting context which may clarify the surprise. |
| 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. | Commonly used in casual conversations to express amazement or excitement. Avoid in formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Astonishing vs They were like wow
What's the difference between Astonishing and They were like wow?
Astonishing: Very surprising or amazing. They were like wow: They were very surprised or impressed.
Which is more formal: Astonishing and They were like wow?
Astonishing is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Astonishing and They were like wow?
They were like wow is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Astonishing: She ran 100m in an astonishing 10.6 seconds. They were like wow: When I saw the stunning sunset, I was like wow.
Can I use Astonishing and They were like wow interchangeably?
Not always. Astonishing and They were like wow 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.