be highly surprised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be highly surprised" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a strong reaction of astonishment or disbelief in response to an unexpected event or information. Example: "I would be highly surprised if they actually decided to go through with the plan after all the objections raised."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The Australian, 34, wrote on his official website: "Even though a decision has been made, I'll be highly surprised if the Bahrain Grand Prix goes ahead this year.

BBC

The Australian, 34, said: "Even though a decision has been made, I'll be highly surprised if the Bahrain Grand Prix goes ahead this year".

BBC

This year's bonds are a different product, but I would be highly surprised if the £10bn allocation lasts until the new tax year in April".

BBC

However I would be highly surprised if this was the case, as the calibre of previous investors and management would not have allowed this to happen.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"I am highly surprised with this last message, for the same person... wrote me not that long ago, less than a fortnight, to say the loan agreements with manufacturers would not contain any condition regarding either location of their activities or preference for France-based suppliers," she said.

Independent

She told BBC Radio 5 live on Tuesday: "I'm highly surprised the Premier League has decided to take no sanctions whatsoever against Richard Scudamore.

BBC

Adding to the above, we were highly surprised by the low participation rate in courses of tropical medicine.

BMC Medical Education

To our surprise, several epitopes contained in the Env protein appear to be highly cross-conserved with the human genome.

Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics

Part of the answer — although arguably the least important part — is that the distant future is highly uncertain (surprise!) and that long-run fiscal projections should be seen mainly as an especially boring genre of science fiction.

The New York Times

For occluded mouth images, sadness is recognized with the lowest accuracy (71.86%) since sadness is highly confused to disgust and surprise.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

While everyday surprises are highly important, don't forget about birthdays, Valentine's Day, anniversaries, etc.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be highly surprised" to express a strong feeling of astonishment, especially when something contradicts expectations. It's suitable when the level of surprise is more than just ordinary.

Common error

Avoid using "highly" excessively in your writing. While "be highly surprised" is correct, too many instances of "highly" can make your writing sound unnatural. Opt for synonyms or rephrase for variety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be highly surprised" functions as a verb phrase expressing a state of strong astonishment or disbelief. Ludwig provides examples in which this phrase indicates a reaction to unexpected events or outcomes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be highly surprised" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, indicating a strong feeling of astonishment or disbelief. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Science contexts, with a neutral register making it versatile. While appropriate, it's important to avoid overusing "highly" in writing for stylistic reasons. Alternatives such as "be greatly astonished" or "be utterly amazed" can provide variety. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in reacting to unexpected situations, reinforcing its function as a clear indicator of surprise.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be very surprised

Emphasizes the surprise aspect, but with a less intense degree.

be extremely surprised

Intensifies the feeling of surprise, using "extremely" as a quantifier.

be greatly astonished

Uses "astonished" which is a more formal synonym for "surprised".

be astonished beyond measure

A more emphatic and dramatic way of expressing extreme surprise.

be utterly amazed

Replaces "surprised" with "amazed", implying a sense of wonder along with surprise.

be taken aback

Indicates a sudden surprise, possibly with a slight shock.

be flabbergasted

Uses a more informal and expressive term for extreme surprise.

be caught off guard

Focuses on the unexpected nature of the situation, leading to surprise.

be dumbfounded

Highlights the speechlessness and confusion resulting from the surprise.

be in disbelief

Emphasizes the incredulity caused by the surprising event.

FAQs

How can I use "be highly surprised" in a sentence?

You can use "be highly surprised" to express a strong feeling of astonishment. For example, "I would "be highly surprised" if the project is completed on time."

What's the difference between "be highly surprised" and "be very surprised"?

"Be highly surprised" implies a stronger degree of surprise than "be very surprised". The former is used when something is particularly unexpected or shocking.

Which is more formal, "be highly surprised" or "be extremely surprised"?

Both ""be highly surprised"" and "be extremely surprised" are relatively formal, but "be extremely surprised" might be perceived as slightly more emphatic.

What can I say instead of "be highly surprised"?

Alternatives include "be greatly astonished", "be utterly amazed", or "be taken aback", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.