Cool MateAstonishing vs That is amazing
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Astonishing
Top 3,000 (common)B2adjective
That is amazing
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: That is amazing
| Astonishing | That is amazing | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈstɒnɪʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈstɑːnɪʃɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæt ɪz əˈmeɪ.zɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ðæt ɪz əˈmeɪ.zɪŋ// |
| Meaning | Very surprising or amazing. | That is very good or surprising. |
| Example | She ran 100m in an astonishing 10.6 seconds. | The view from the top of the mountain is simply breathtaking; that is 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 | that is truly amazing, that is really amazing, isn't that amazing |
| Antonyms | unimpressive, ordinary, mundane | boring, ordinary, unimpressive |
| 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 overly formal contexts., Misplacing emphasis, making it sound insincere., Confusing with similar phrases like 'that's great' or 'that's interesting'. |
| 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 in casual conversations to express admiration. Avoid in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Astonishing vs That is amazing
What's the difference between Astonishing and That is amazing?
Astonishing: Very surprising or amazing. That is amazing: That is very good or surprising.
Which is more common: Astonishing and That is amazing?
That is 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. That is amazing: The view from the top of the mountain is simply breathtaking; that is amazing!
Can I use Astonishing and That is amazing interchangeably?
Not always. Astonishing and That is 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.