Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Utterly astounded; completely astonished; shocked to the point of being speechless: The word describes a state of extreme surprise, often to the point where one is momentarily unable to speak or react. It conveys a sense of being overwhelmed by unexpected news or an astonishing event.

Usage

• Primary Use: Used as a predicate adjective (following a linking verb like , , ) to describe a person's reaction.
• Register: Informal, colloquial. Common in British and Australian English, but understood in other varieties.
• Context: Typically used for reactions to surprising news, revelations, or spectacular sights.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • I was absolutely gobsmacked when I heard they had won the lottery.
  • She stood there, gobsmacked, as the final score was announced.
  • The audience was gobsmacked by the magician's incredible final trick.

Advanced Usage

• Intensifiers: Often used with adverbs like , , , or to emphasize the degree of astonishment.
  • We were totally gobsmacked by their generosity.
• Descriptive Use: Can be used to describe a person's appearance or state in a narrative.
  • He had a gobsmacked expression on his face.

Variants and Related Words

• Gobsmack (verb, informal): To astonish or astound someone.
  • The news really gobsmacked me.
• Gob (noun, slang, chiefly British): Mouth. (This is the etymological root; "gobsmacked" literally suggests being hit in the mouth, i.e., struck dumb.)

Synonyms

• Astonished: Filled with sudden and great wonder or surprise.
• Flabbergasted: Extremely surprised or shocked.
• Stunned: So shocked that one is temporarily unable to react.
• Thunderstruck: Extremely surprised or shocked.

Antonyms

• Unfazed: Not disconcerted or perturbed.
• Unsurprised: Not feeling or showing surprise.
• Expectant: Having or showing an excited feeling that something is about to happen.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• To be knocked for six (idiom, chiefly British): To be very surprised or upset by something. (Shares a similar sense of being overwhelmed.)
• To be lost for words: Unable to speak due to strong emotion, especially surprise. (Describes a common effect of being gobsmacked.)

Adjective

1. utterly astounded