A2noun 1K

Surprise

🇬🇧 UK /["/səˈpraɪz/"]/ 🇺🇸 US /["/sərˈpraɪz/"]/

Meaning of Surprise

an event, a piece of news, etc. that is unexpected or that happens suddenly

In simple words: When something happens that you did not expect.

Surprise in a sentence

• The birthday party was a complete surprise for her.
• His sudden arrival was a pleasant surprise to everyone.
• She had a surprise for him that he would never forget.
• The magician's tricks always leave the audience in surprise.
• To my surprise, I found a letter in the mailbox.

How to use Surprise

Use 'surprise' when something happens unexpectedly. It can be a good or bad feeling. In formal contexts, you might say 'unexpected event' instead. It's not suitable for overly serious discussions.

Grammar pattern

surprise + object

Memory hint

Think of 'surprise' as a 'sur-prize' you didn't see coming!

Related words

Collocations with Surprise

• big
• complete
• genuine
• be
• come as
• get
• announcement
• appearance
• party
• surprise for
• surprise to
• a bit of a surprise
• quite a surprise
• hold few, many, no, etc. surprises
• great
• total
• utter
• express
• register
• show
• in surprise
• to somebody’s surprise
• with surprise
• an expression of surprise
• a look of surprise
• a gasp of surprise
• great
• total
• utter
• express
• register
• show
• in surprise
• to somebody’s surprise
• with surprise
• an expression of surprise
• a look of surprise
• a gasp of surprise

Synonyms for Surprise

• astonishment
• shock
• stunning
• discovery
• revelation

Opposites of Surprise

• expectation
• predictability

Common mistakes with Surprise

• 'Surprise' is often confused with 'amazed' — they are different.
• Some learners use 'surprise' as a noun when they mean the verb form.
• Confusing the noun form with the verb form, e.g., saying 'surprise me' when referring to an unexpected event.

Frequently asked questions about Surprise

What does Surprise mean?

When something happens that you did not expect.

What is the definition of Surprise?

an event, a piece of news, etc. that is unexpected or that happens suddenly

How do you use Surprise in a sentence?

The birthday party was a complete surprise for her.

Can you give another example of Surprise?

His sudden arrival was a pleasant surprise to everyone.

What are synonyms for Surprise?

Common alternatives include astonishment, shock, stunning, discovery, revelation.

What is the opposite of Surprise?

Opposite meanings include expectation, predictability.

What words go with Surprise?

It commonly pairs with big, complete, genuine, be, come as, get, announcement, appearance, party, surprise for, surprise to, a bit of a surprise, quite a surprise, hold few, many, no, etc. surprises, great, total, utter, express, register, show, in surprise, to somebody’s surprise, with surprise, an expression of surprise, a look of surprise, a gasp of surprise, great, total, utter, express, register, show, in surprise, to somebody’s surprise, with surprise, an expression of surprise, a look of surprise, a gasp of surprise.

What are common mistakes when using Surprise?

'Surprise' is often confused with 'amazed' — they are different. Some learners use 'surprise' as a noun when they mean the verb form. Confusing the noun form with the verb form, e.g., saying 'surprise me' when referring to an unexpected event.

How do you pronounce Surprise?

US: /["/sərˈpraɪz/"]/, UK: /["/səˈpraɪz/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.

When should I use Surprise?

Use 'surprise' when something happens unexpectedly. It can be a good or bad feeling. In formal contexts, you might say 'unexpected event' instead. It's not suitable for overly serious discussions.

What CEFR level is Surprise?

"Surprise" is at A2 level on the CEFR scale.