surprising

/sə'praiziɳ/

Thân thiện

The news came as a surprising turn of events.

Definition

Adjective 1. Causing surprise, wonder, or amazement: Describes something that is unexpected or astonishing, evoking a feeling of being taken aback or impressed. Example: The sudden turn of events was truly surprising. 2. Remarkable or notable for being unexpected: Used to characterize an outcome, fact, or quality that stands out because it was not anticipated. Example: There is a surprising consensus among the experts on this issue.

Usage

The adjective "surprising" is used to modify a noun, indicating that the noun possesses a quality or is involved in an action that causes surprise. It often precedes the noun it describes (e.g., a surprising result) or follows a linking verb like "is," "was," or "seems" (e.g., The news was surprising).

Examples

• Before a noun:
  • The team made a surprising comeback in the final minutes of the game.
  • For a beginner, she showed surprising skill in handling the complex software.
• After a linking verb:
  • The test results were not surprising to the researchers.
  • It is surprising how quickly time passes.

Advanced Usage

• "It is surprising that...": A common structure to introduce a fact or situation that causes surprise.
  • It is surprising that so few people attended the important meeting.
• "Find something surprising": To experience or perceive something as surprising.
  • I find it surprising that he agreed so readily.
• Degree Modifiers: "Surprising" can be modified by adverbs like "very," "quite," "hardly," or "not at all" to indicate the level of surprise.
  • The similarity between the two theories is quite surprising.
  • His reaction was hardly surprising, given the circumstances.

Variants and Related Words

• Surprisingly (adverb): In a surprising manner; to a surprising degree.
  • The solution was surprisingly simple.
• Surprise (noun/verb): The feeling or event itself. (Note: This is the root word, not a compound of "surprising").
  • Noun: The announcement came as a complete surprise.
  • Verb: They planned to surprise her on her birthday.

Synonyms

• Astonishing: Causing great surprise or amazement.
• Unexpected: Not expected or regarded as likely to happen.
• Startling: So surprising as to cause a momentary shock or alarm.
• Remarkable: Worthy of attention; striking, often due to being unusual.

Antonyms

• Expected: Regarded as likely to happen; anticipated.
• Predictable: Able to be predicted; happening in a way that is not surprising.
• Ordinary: With no special or distinctive features; normal, not causing surprise.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• Surprising as it may seem: A phrase used to acknowledge that what follows is unexpected.
  • Surprising as it may seem, the oldest method is often the most effective.
• A surprising turn of events: An unexpected change or development in a situation.
  • The trial took a surprising turn of events when a new witness appeared.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. causing surprise or wonder or amazement
   • the report shows a surprising lack of hard factual data
   • leaped up with surprising agility
   • she earned a surprising amount of money