Surprise
noun
A feeling or event that is unexpected and causes a short and sudden emotion.
His sudden arrival was a surprise to everyone in the party.
Often appears as...
- pleasant surprise
- big surprise
verb
To make someone feel surprise because of something unexpected.
She surprised me with a birthday gift.
Often appears as...
- surprise someone
- surprise attack
noun
An unexpected event or piece of news.
The news of their divorce was a big surprise.
Often appears as...
- great surprise
- total surprise
verb
To attack or confront someone unexpectedly.
The enemy troops were surprised at dawn.
Often appears as...
- surprise attack
- surprise the enemy
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A short introductory statement or remark, especially in a book.
The surprise in his latest novel sets an intriguing tone for the story.
Often appears as...
- surprise in the novel
- surprise in the play
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
noun
A feeling or event that is unexpected and causes a short and sudden emotion.
His sudden arrival was a surprise to everyone in the party.
Often appears as...
- pleasant surprise
- big surprise
verb
To make someone feel surprise because of something unexpected.
She surprised me with a birthday gift.
Often appears as...
- surprise someone
- surprise attack
noun
An unexpected event or piece of news.
The news of their divorce was a big surprise.
Often appears as...
- great surprise
- total surprise
verb
To attack or confront someone unexpectedly.
The enemy troops were surprised at dawn.
Often appears as...
- surprise attack
- surprise the enemy
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A short introductory statement or remark, especially in a book.
The surprise in his latest novel sets an intriguing tone for the story.
Often appears as...
- surprise in the novel
- surprise in the play
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/2Unexpected Joy
Used to express positive emotions when something unexpectedly good occurs.
Her promotion came as a pleasant surprise.
Pro Tip 2/2Varying Intensity
The impact can range from mild to overwhelming, depending on what's unexpected.
Finding the hidden note in the book was a nice little surprise.
Pro Tip 1/2Unexpected Joy
Used to express positive emotions when something unexpectedly good occurs.
Her promotion came as a pleasant surprise.
Pro Tip 2/2Varying Intensity
The impact can range from mild to overwhelming, depending on what's unexpected.
Finding the hidden note in the book was a nice little surprise.
Pro Tip 1/2Unexpected Joy
Used to express positive emotions when something unexpectedly good occurs.
Her promotion came as a pleasant surprise.
Pro Tip 2/2Varying Intensity
The impact can range from mild to overwhelming, depending on what's unexpected.
Finding the hidden note in the book was a nice little surprise.
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Video examples
The benefits of a...
The heightened workout a bilingual brain receives throughout its life can also help delay the onset of diseases, like Alzheimer's and dementia by as much as five years. The idea of major cognitive benefits to bilingualism may seem intuitive now, but it would have surprised earlier experts.
Video examples
Your body language may...
and they sit in their chair and they make themselves tiny, and they go like this when they raise their hand. I notice a couple of things about this. One, you're not going to be surprised. It seems to be related to gender. So women are much more likely to do this kind of thing than men.
Video examples
How stress affects your...
and so became more sensitive to stress throughout life. These are considered epigenetic changes, meaning that they effect which genes are expressed without directly changing the genetic code. And these changes can be reversed if the moms are swapped. But there's a surprising result.
Video examples
How does the Nobel Peace...
and had no children. When his will was opened after his death, it came as a surprise that his fortune was to be used for five prizes in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. These prizes illustrated his lifelong commitment to sciences and his passion for literature.
Video examples
Watch One Family's...
you only would expect it could be sadness it could be anger it could be love it could be affection we've been very surprised that the remarkable recovery she's me she's by far not done and she's a long way to go but in this case we're talking about someone who has
Video examples
What can Schrödinger's...
indicating which way to spin to obey the rules of entanglement. It's not surprising then that entanglement is at the core of quantum information science, a growing field studying how to use the laws of the strange quantum world in our macroscopic world,
Video examples
Is math discovered or...
often in surprising ways. So, is mathematics an invention or a discovery? Artificial construct or universal truth? Human product or natural, possibly divine, creation? These questions are so deep the debate often becomes spiritual in nature.
Video examples
A message of peace, hope...
ever overwhelmed by just how many people there are around the world for whom what came out of your head and your mouth in your guitar played such an extraordinary role in their lives I'm continuously surprised at how much you know my songs
Video examples
Rethinking infidelity...
but the pressure for women is to hide, minimize and deny, which isn't surprising when you consider that there are still nine countries where women can be killed for straying. Now, monogamy used to be one person for life.
Video examples
Pigeon vs Peregrine...
So for the element of surprise, the peregrine falcon has to resort to sheer speed. In a dive, it's the fastest bird in the world. So fast, it's breathtaking.
Video examples
The benefits of a...
The heightened workout a bilingual brain receives throughout its life can also help delay the onset of diseases, like Alzheimer's and dementia by as much as five years. The idea of major cognitive benefits to bilingualism may seem intuitive now, but it would have surprised earlier experts.
Video examples
Your body language may...
and they sit in their chair and they make themselves tiny, and they go like this when they raise their hand. I notice a couple of things about this. One, you're not going to be surprised. It seems to be related to gender. So women are much more likely to do this kind of thing than men.
Video examples
How stress affects your...
and so became more sensitive to stress throughout life. These are considered epigenetic changes, meaning that they effect which genes are expressed without directly changing the genetic code. And these changes can be reversed if the moms are swapped. But there's a surprising result.
Video examples
How does the Nobel Peace...
and had no children. When his will was opened after his death, it came as a surprise that his fortune was to be used for five prizes in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. These prizes illustrated his lifelong commitment to sciences and his passion for literature.
Video examples
Watch One Family's...
you only would expect it could be sadness it could be anger it could be love it could be affection we've been very surprised that the remarkable recovery she's me she's by far not done and she's a long way to go but in this case we're talking about someone who has
Video examples
What can Schrödinger's...
indicating which way to spin to obey the rules of entanglement. It's not surprising then that entanglement is at the core of quantum information science, a growing field studying how to use the laws of the strange quantum world in our macroscopic world,
Video examples
Is math discovered or...
often in surprising ways. So, is mathematics an invention or a discovery? Artificial construct or universal truth? Human product or natural, possibly divine, creation? These questions are so deep the debate often becomes spiritual in nature.
Video examples
A message of peace, hope...
ever overwhelmed by just how many people there are around the world for whom what came out of your head and your mouth in your guitar played such an extraordinary role in their lives I'm continuously surprised at how much you know my songs
Video examples
Rethinking infidelity...
but the pressure for women is to hide, minimize and deny, which isn't surprising when you consider that there are still nine countries where women can be killed for straying. Now, monogamy used to be one person for life.
Video examples
Pigeon vs Peregrine...
So for the element of surprise, the peregrine falcon has to resort to sheer speed. In a dive, it's the fastest bird in the world. So fast, it's breathtaking.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Isabelle Adjani
French Actress
Passion surprises. One doesn't search it. It can happen to you tomorrow.
Quote examples
Robert Lepage
Canadian Playwright
I want to be surprised by life... I think that's more interesting.
Quote examples
John Daly
American Athlete
Life is full of challenges and surprises, and I've had my share.
Quote examples
Gary Bettman
American Businessman
I never rule anything in or out; life can surprise you.
Quote examples
Billy Graham
American Clergyman
Growing old has been the greatest surprise of my life.
Quote examples
Barry Diller
American Businessman
I don't want to set the world up for surprises.
Quote examples
Jil Sander
German Designer
Life is full of challenges and surprises.
Quote examples
Lykke Li
Swedish Musician
Most things in life come as a surprise.
Quote examples
Martin Freeman
English Actor
I like life to surprise me.
Quote examples
John Major
British Politician
Life is full of surprises.
Quote examples
Isabelle Adjani
French Actress
Passion surprises. One doesn't search it. It can happen to you tomorrow.
Quote examples
Robert Lepage
Canadian Playwright
I want to be surprised by life... I think that's more interesting.
Quote examples
John Daly
American Athlete
Life is full of challenges and surprises, and I've had my share.
Quote examples
Gary Bettman
American Businessman
I never rule anything in or out; life can surprise you.
Quote examples
Billy Graham
American Clergyman
Growing old has been the greatest surprise of my life.
Quote examples
Barry Diller
American Businessman
I don't want to set the world up for surprises.
Quote examples
Jil Sander
German Designer
Life is full of challenges and surprises.
Quote examples
Lykke Li
Swedish Musician
Most things in life come as a surprise.
Quote examples
Martin Freeman
English Actor
I like life to surprise me.
Quote examples
John Major
British Politician
Life is full of surprises.
Example 1 of 10
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