completely surprised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "completely surprised" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a strong feeling of astonishment or shock about something unexpected. Example: "When she walked in with the surprise party, I was completely surprised and speechless."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

So I was completely surprised when they called me back for an interview this morning..

Vice

"He completely surprised me!

The New York Times

They were completely surprised.

The Guardian - Opinion

"All of this completely surprised me".

The New York Times

ERROL MORRIS: I am completely surprised by this.

The New York Times

The strategic landing Friday completely surprised the Chinese.

The New York Times

"We were completely surprised, especially given the timing," he said.

The New York Times

"So we were completely surprised when it hit us here".

The New York Times

She wasn't completely surprised by my reaction, she added.

The New York Times - Style

When you heard the terrible news from Arizona, were you completely surprised?

The New York Times

But United States team officials were completely surprised, and less than happy.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context to determine if a stronger or more nuanced synonym might be more effective. For example, "utterly astonished" might be more appropriate for conveying a sense of wonder, while "caught off guard" might emphasize a lack of preparedness.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "completely surprised" in your writing. Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms like "utterly astonished" or "totally amazed" to maintain reader engagement and convey subtle differences in meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely surprised" functions as an adjective phrase describing a state of being. The adverb "completely" intensifies the adjective "surprised", indicating a high degree of astonishment. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "completely surprised" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a strong feeling of astonishment. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media, science, and wiki sources. While versatile, it's important to consider synonyms like "utterly astonished" or "totally amazed" to avoid repetition and to better convey the nuance of your intended meaning. Remember to use "completely surprised" to clearly communicate a high degree of unexpectedness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly astonished

Emphasizes the depth of surprise, suggesting a higher degree of amazement.

totally amazed

Indicates a sense of wonder and delight in addition to surprise.

absolutely flabbergasted

Suggests a state of speechlessness and bewilderment due to the surprise.

entirely unexpected

Focuses on the lack of anticipation rather than the emotional response.

wholly unanticipated

A more formal way of saying "entirely unexpected", suitable for professional contexts.

caught off guard

Implies a state of unpreparedness leading to the surprise.

taken by surprise

Highlights the action of being surprised by an external event.

never saw it coming

An idiomatic expression indicating a complete lack of foresight.

didn't expect that

A simple and direct way of expressing surprise.

knocked for a loop

Suggests being disoriented or stunned by the surprise.

FAQs

How can I use "completely surprised" in a sentence?

You can use "completely surprised" to describe a feeling of unexpected astonishment, as in, "I was "completely surprised" when they announced my name as the winner."

What's the difference between "completely surprised" and "slightly surprised"?

"Completely surprised" indicates a strong sense of shock or astonishment, while "slightly surprised" suggests a mild level of unexpectedness. The degree of surprise is the key distinction.

What are some synonyms for "completely surprised"?

Alternatives include "utterly astonished", "totally amazed", or "absolutely flabbergasted", depending on the level of intensity you wish to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "I was surprised" or "I was completely surprised"?

Both are correct, but "completely surprised" emphasizes a greater degree of astonishment. The choice depends on the intensity of the emotion you want to express.