definitely surprised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "definitely surprised" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a strong feeling of surprise or astonishment about something that has happened. Example: "I was definitely surprised by the unexpected announcement at the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That definitely surprised me.

The New York Times - Sports

"I'm definitely surprised," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

"I was definitely surprised," Chatterjee said.

Stanford University

"I was definitely surprised," Ms. Santillo said.

The New York Times

"I was definitely surprised," Pierce said.

The New York Times - Sports

"I think we were definitely surprised".

The New York Times - Science

"I was definitely surprised," Amukamara said.

The New York Times - Sports

It definitely surprised all of us".

The New York Times - Sports

"I'm definitely surprised," said another neighbor, Tom Burke, 67.

The New York Times

"That Michael Smith was definitely surprised," Dr. Ling said.

The New York Times

"Not in an aggressive way, but people are definitely surprised.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "definitely surprised" to express a strong, clear sense of unexpectedness, ensuring the context supports such a direct statement. This emphasizes your genuine reaction and provides clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "definitely surprised" in highly formal or academic writing where a more nuanced or sophisticated expression might be more appropriate. Consider alternatives like "utterly astonished" or "completely taken aback" to maintain a suitable tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "definitely surprised" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a subject, expressing a state of being surprised to a significant degree. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct. Ludwig shows examples from various contexts, confirming its widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

18%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "definitely surprised" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase for expressing a strong feeling of unexpectedness. As Ludwig AI confirms, its register is mostly neutral, making it suitable for news, media, and general conversation. While it is common in many contexts, bear in mind that it may not be as appropriate in highly academic or formal settings, where nuanced alternatives like "utterly astonished" or "completely taken aback" might be better choices. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media and Academic contexts, demonstrating its broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incredibly surprised

Uses a different adverb to modify "surprised", changing the level of intensity.

utterly astonished

Emphasizes a complete and profound level of surprise.

totally astonished

Similar to "utterly astonished" but with a slightly different nuance.

completely taken aback

Highlights the unexpected and startling nature of the surprise.

absolutely floored

Conveys a sense of being overwhelmed by surprise.

thoroughly amazed

Focuses on the positive aspect of surprise, emphasizing wonder and delight.

quite amazed

Indicates a noticeable level of surprise and delight.

genuinely shocked

Underscores the authenticity and intensity of the surprise.

truly startled

Highlights the sudden and unexpected nature of the surprise.

frankly surprised

Emphasizes the speaker's honesty and candor in expressing their surprise.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "definitely surprised"?

You can use alternatives like "utterly astonished", "completely taken aback", or "incredibly surprised" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "definitely surprised" formal or informal?

"Definitely surprised" is generally considered to be neutral in tone. It is acceptable in many contexts, including news reporting and everyday conversation, but might be too informal for highly academic or formal writing.

How to use "definitely surprised" in a sentence?

You can use "definitely surprised" to describe your reaction to an unexpected event or piece of news. For example, "I was definitely surprised by the unexpected announcement at the meeting."

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

"Definitely surprised" indicates a strong level of astonishment, while "slightly surprised" suggests only a mild level of surprise. The choice depends on how strongly you want to convey your reaction.