surprise
HighNeutral
Definition
Meaning
An unexpected event or the feeling caused by something unexpected.
Refers to the act of causing surprise, as in actions or events designed to astonish, and is used in various contexts such as parties, attacks, or emotional responses.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can convey positive, negative, or neutral emotions; often associated with suddenness and unpredictability, and may involve elements of astonishment or shock.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling differences; both use 'surprise'. Pronunciation varies slightly as per IPA, with American English often having a rhotic sound.
Connotations
Similar in both variants, though some idiomatic expressions or collocations might have regional preferences.
Frequency
Equally common in UK and US English across spoken and written forms.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
surprise + object (e.g., surprise someone)be surprised + by/at (e.g., surprised by the news)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “take someone by surprise”
- “come as no surprise”
- “a bolt from the blue”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The quarterly earnings report was a surprise to analysts, affecting stock prices.
Academic
The research findings presented a surprising contradiction to established theories.
Everyday
We're organizing a surprise visit for our grandparents' anniversary.
Technical
In neuroscience, surprise is measured as a response to prediction errors in sensory input.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She surprised her colleagues by arriving early for the meeting.
American English
- He surprised us all with his sudden decision to travel abroad.
adverb
British English
- Surprisingly, the train arrived on time despite the delays.
American English
- She handled the crisis surprisingly well, given the circumstances.
adjective
British English
- The surprise inspection caught the staff off guard.
American English
- They launched a surprise campaign to boost community engagement.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have a surprise for you!
- The birthday cake was a lovely surprise.
- The test results came as a complete surprise to the class.
- He surprised me with his ability to speak French.
- The sudden policy change took the employees by surprise, leading to confusion.
- Her innovative approach surprised the judges in the competition.
- The geopolitical developments have surprised experts, necessitating a revision of forecasts.
- The novel's intricate plot was designed to surprise readers with its nuanced twists.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'sur-PRISE' as a prize that surprises you when you least expect it.
Conceptual Metaphor
SURPRISE IS A SUDDEN EVENT or SURPRISE IS AN UNEXPECTED GIFT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid overusing 'сюрприз' as a direct translation; in English, 'surprise' has broader verbal and nominal uses.
- Confusion with 'изумление' or 'потрясение', which may correspond to stronger synonyms like 'amazement' or 'shock'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'suprise' (omitting the second 'r')
- Incorrect use of verb forms, e.g., using 'surprising' when 'surprised' is needed in passive constructions.
Practice
Quiz
Which word is an antonym of 'surprise'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, surprise can be positive, negative, or neutral; it depends on the context, such as a pleasant surprise versus a surprise attack.
As a regular verb, it conjugates as surprise (present), surprised (past), surprising (present participle). Example: 'She surprises him often.' 'He was surprised yesterday.'
'Startle' implies a sudden, often fearful reaction, while 'surprise' is broader and can involve any unexpected event, from mild to intense.
Yes, it is acceptable, though in highly technical contexts, synonyms like 'unexpected outcome' or 'anomaly' might be preferred for precision.
Collections
Part of a collection
Emotions and Feelings
A2 · 33 words · Words to describe how you feel.