Definition

Adverb: In a manner that causes great surprise or amazement; to a surprising degree.

Usage

"Astonishingly" is used to modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb to emphasize that something is very surprising, unexpected, or difficult to believe. It often introduces a fact or outcome that contradicts expectations.

Examples

• The old car was astonishingly reliable despite its age.
• She completed the complex puzzle astonishingly quickly.
• Astonishingly, the small team managed to win against the champions.
• The data shows an astonishingly high level of agreement among participants.

Advanced Usage

• "Astonishingly enough": Used to introduce a surprising fact, often with a slight tone of concession or added emphasis on the unexpected nature.
  • Astonishingly enough, he had never seen the ocean before moving to the coast.

Variants and Related Words

• Astonishing (adjective): Causing great surprise or amazement.
  • The magician performed an astonishing trick.
• Astonish (verb): To surprise or impress someone greatly.
  • His knowledge of history never fails to astonish me.
• Astonishment (noun): Great surprise.
  • She stared in astonishment at the unexpected gift.

Synonyms

• Amazingly
• Astoundingly
• Surprisingly
• Staggeringly
• Incredibly (when meaning "to an extraordinary degree")

Antonyms

• Predictably
• Expectedly
• Ordinarily
• Typically

Adverb

1. in an amazing manner; to everyone's surprise
   • amazingly, he finished medical school in three years