Surprisingly: meaning, definitions and examples

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surprisingly

 

[ səˈpraɪzɪŋli ]

Adverb / Adjective
Context #1 | Adverb

in a surprising manner

In a way that causes someone to feel surprised by being unexpected or unusual.

Synonyms

amazingly, astonishingly, remarkably, unexpectedly.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
surprisingly

Use 'surprisingly' when something happens in a way that is not expected, often with a mild level of surprise.

  • Surprisingly, she remembered my birthday this year.
  • The test was surprisingly easy.
unexpectedly

Use 'unexpectedly' when something happens without warning or anticipation, often abruptly.

  • The meeting ended unexpectedly early.
  • He showed up at the party unexpectedly.
astonishingly

Use 'astonishingly' when something is so surprising that it almost seems unbelievable. It emphasizes a high level of shock or awe.

  • Astonishingly, they found the long-lost manuscript.
  • He speaks ten languages astonishingly well.
amazingly

Use 'amazingly' when something happens in an impressive or extraordinary way. It often conveys a sense of wonder.

  • Amazingly, he finished the race in first place.
  • She can amazingly solve complex math problems in seconds.
remarkably

Use 'remarkably' to highlight something that is unusually or strikingly great or good.

  • Remarkably, the building withstood the earthquake.
  • Her performance was remarkably better than last time.

Examples of usage

  • He did surprisingly well in the exam.
  • The movie was surprisingly good.
Context #2 | Adjective

causing surprise or astonishment

Causing someone to feel surprised by being unexpected or unusual.

Synonyms

amazing, astonishing, startling, unexpected.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
surprisingly

Used when something happens that is unusual or not anticipated.

  • Surprisingly, the shy child spoke in front of the whole class.
  • The weather was surprisingly warm for this time of year.
unexpected

Used when describing something that happens without being predicted or anticipated.

  • The party was an unexpected surprise.
  • We had some unexpected guests over the weekend.
astonishing

Used for something that is so surprising that it is almost unbelievable.

  • The news of the discovery was astonishing.
  • He achieved an astonishing feat by climbing the mountain alone.
amazing

Used to describe something that is extremely good, impressive, or enjoyable.

  • The magician's tricks were amazing.
  • She gave an amazing performance in the play.
startling

Used when something causes a sudden shock or alarm.

  • The loud noise was startling and woke everyone up.
  • Her sudden announcement was quite startling.

Examples of usage

  • She gave a surprisingly good performance.
  • It was a surprisingly warm day for November.

Translations

Translations of the word "surprisingly" in other languages:

🇵🇹 surpreendentemente

🇮🇳 आश्चर्यजनक रूप से

🇩🇪 überraschenderweise

🇮🇩 secara mengejutkan

🇺🇦 несподівано

🇵🇱 zaskakująco

🇯🇵 驚くほど

🇫🇷 de manière surprenante

🇪🇸 sorprendentemente

🇹🇷 şaşırtıcı bir şekilde

🇰🇷 놀랍게도

🇸🇦 بشكل مدهش

🇨🇿 překvapivě

🇸🇰 prekvapivo

🇨🇳 令人惊讶地

🇸🇮 presenetljivo

🇮🇸 furðulega

🇰🇿 таңғаларлықтай

🇬🇪 გასაოცრად

🇦🇿 təəccüblü şəkildə

🇲🇽 sorprendentemente

Etymology

The word 'surprisingly' originates from the verb 'surprise' which comes from the Old French word 'surprendre', from the Latin 'suprendere' meaning 'to seize'. The adverb form 'surprisingly' was first used in the 16th century in English to describe something that causes surprise or astonishment.

See also: surprised, surprises, surprising.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,682 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.