Definition

1. Verb:
   • To affect someone with a sudden and strong feeling of surprise or wonder; to amaze greatly.
   • To cause someone to be filled with overwhelming surprise or disbelief.

Usage

• The verb "astonish" is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object (someone or something that is astonished).
• It is often used in passive constructions (e.g., "I was astonished by...").
• It describes a reaction to something unexpected, impressive, or hard to believe.

Examples

• Active Voice:
  • The magician's final trick astonished the entire audience.
  • Her profound knowledge of ancient history astonishes her professors.
• Passive Voice:
  • We were astonished by the sheer beauty of the landscape.
  • He was astonished to discover he had won the award.

Advanced Usage

• "to astonish someone with something": To cause surprise by means of a specific thing.
  • She astonished the committee with her innovative proposal.
• "to be astonished at/by something": To be greatly surprised by something.
  • I am continually astonished at his generosity.
  • They were astonished by the sudden change in plans.

Variants and Related Words

• Astonishing (adjective): Causing great surprise or amazement.
  • The team made an astonishing recovery.
• Astonished (adjective): Feeling or showing great surprise.
  • She had an astonished expression on her face.
• Astonishment (noun): Great surprise.
  • To my utter astonishment, he agreed immediately.

Synonyms

• Amaze: To surprise very much.
• Astound: To shock with wonder.
• Stun: To shock or overwhelm.
• Flabbergast (informal): To overcome with surprise and bewilderment.

Antonyms

• Bore: To weary by dullness.
• Expect: To regard as likely to happen.

Idioms and Phrases

• Astonish the world: To do something so remarkable it surprises everyone.
  • The young inventor astonished the world with her groundbreaking device.

Verb

1. affect with wonder
   • Your ability to speak six languages amazes me!