Cool MateCalm vs Not surprised
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Calm
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adjective
Not surprised
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Calm
| Calm | Not surprised | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kɑːm/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kɑːm/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //nɒt səˈpraɪzd//🇺🇸 //nɑt səˈpraɪzd// |
| Meaning | Not feeling strong emotions like anger or excitement; peaceful. | feeling that something is expected and normal |
| Example | The lake was calm and serene, perfect for a day of fishing. | When I heard the news, I was not surprised at all. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, about, calm and collected, cool, calm and collected, appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, about, calm and collected, cool, calm and collected | not surprised at all, not surprised by, was not surprised, not surprised when, I am not surprised |
| Antonyms | agitated, nervous, excited | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'calm' when meaning 'excited' or 'angry'., Confusing 'calm' with 'clm', a less common abbreviation., Incorrectly saying 'more calm' instead of 'calmer'. | Using 'not surprised' when you should say 'not surprising'., Confusion with 'surprised' as an adjective instead of the phrase., Inappropriate use in overly formal contexts. |
| Usage notes | Use 'calm' to describe someone who is peaceful or relaxed. It's suitable in both casual and formal contexts. Avoid using it when describing intense emotions or chaotic situations. | Use this phrase to express that you are not shocked by a situation. It fits well in everyday conversations but might seem too casual in formal writing. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Calm vs Not surprised
What's the difference between Calm and Not surprised?
Calm: Not feeling strong emotions like anger or excitement; peaceful. Not surprised: feeling that something is expected and normal
Which is more common: Calm and Not surprised?
Calm is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Calm: The lake was calm and serene, perfect for a day of fishing. Not surprised: When I heard the news, I was not surprised at all.
Can I use Calm and Not surprised interchangeably?
Not always. Calm and Not surprised 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.