amazement

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "amazement" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a feeling of wonder, shock or surprise towards something. For example: The crowd was filled with amazement after the magician revealed his latest trick.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If so, then tonight proved it because none of the winners could do anything but flail around and profess amazement that anyone's even heard of them.

The Guardian - Film

The first reports of grid cells had neuroscientists gaping in amazement.

The Guardian

I asked him to look at an early draft of the screenplay for some friendly advice, and to my amazement he was keen to direct it.

The Guardian - Film

"It gave me a feeling of amazement and impotence," said Bregman, who took Bergoglio's declaration regarding Jalics and Yorio in 2010.

The Guardian

Cormont expressed her amazement that within the first few hours of the announcement that the prison was to open to the public, more than 2,000 applications had been made.

The Guardian

At home, we're routinely battered over the head with so many miraculous widgets, a sort of amazement fatigue has set in.

The Guardian - Travel

Even now, it is hard to look back on the events that led up to the Good Friday agreement, and the subsequent years, without a profound sense of amazement at how it all came together and how it was sustained.

The Guardian - Opinion

To my amazement the new software does not allow me to download e-mail attachments in Microsoft's own format, Word.Instead, I receive a message urging me to buy Office 365 Home Premium for $99.99 a year so I can read documents encoded in Microsoft's proprietary format.

The Economist

It is only foreigners who react with amazement to the country's plethora of strikes and demonstrations.

The Economist

Mr Dasaad remembers the day that young Barry was met by a white woman, and his amazement on learning that this was Barry's mum .Unity in diversity" was a phrase that Mr Obama returned to again and again in his Jakarta speech, and his classmates firmly believe that he came to appreciate this concept, emotionally and intellectually, at their school in Menteng.

The Economist

To your correspondent's amazement, AOL subsequently ranked his botch-up as one of the top ten news sites in the world, ahead of Time Warner's "Pathfinder" website, which reputedly cost $140m to build.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To create a greater impact and nuance, consider pairing "amazement" with an adjective that specifies the type of wonder or surprise, such as 'sheer amazement' or 'utter amazement'.

Common error

Avoid using "amazement" when you mean amusement or lighthearted enjoyment. "Amazement" implies a deeper sense of wonder or surprise, whereas amusement suggests pleasure and entertainment.

Linguistic Context

"Amazement" functions primarily as a noun, representing a state of profound wonder or surprise. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is usable in written English. Examples show it acting as the object of prepositions (e.g., 'in amazement') or as the subject of a sentence (e.g., 'amazement filled the room').

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "amazement" is a versatile noun used to express strong feelings of wonder, surprise, or awe. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usability. While synonyms like "astonishment" and "wonder" exist, "amazement" carries a specific nuance suitable for both formal and informal contexts. To effectively use "amazement", consider specifying the type of wonder experienced and avoiding confusion with terms like amusement. Its frequent occurrence in News & Media and other authoritative sources underscores its significance in conveying impactful emotional responses, making it a potent tool for writers aiming to capture profound emotional experiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

astonishment

A direct synonym, referring to great surprise and wonder.

astoundment

Very similar to astonishment, but slightly less common.

wonder

Focuses on a feeling of awe and admiration.

surprise

Highlights the unexpected nature of the feeling.

awe

Emphasizes the profound respect and reverence felt.

bewilderment

Suggests a state of confusion and perplexity.

shock

Implies a sudden and often disturbing surprise.

incredulity

Indicates disbelief and skepticism.

flabbergasted

An informal term for being utterly astonished.

dumbfounded

Suggests being speechless with surprise.

FAQs

How can I use "amazement" in a sentence?

"Amazement" is a noun, so it can function as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. For example, "The crowd watched in amazement", or "Her talent filled us with amazement".

What words are similar to "amazement"?

Synonyms for "amazement" include "astonishment", "wonder", "surprise", and "awe". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say 'I am in amazement'?

While grammatically understandable, it's more common and natural to say 'I am filled with amazement' or 'I am in a state of amazement'. Using a prepositional phrase adds clarity and emphasizes the depth of the feeling.

What's the difference between "amazement" and "surprise"?

"Surprise" is a more general term for something unexpected. "Amazement" implies a greater level of wonder and astonishment. You might be surprised by a small gift, but you would likely feel amazement at witnessing a spectacular natural phenomenon.