greatly surprised

USAGE SUMMARY

"greatly surprised" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to express that something was more than simply 'surprised.' For example, you could say, "I was greatly surprised when he showed up to my party unannounced."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

It proves that we still keep some of the children we have been, and we desire more than ever before to be greatly surprised when nothing is surprising anymore".

Vice

I watched — and marvelled — and was greatly surprised.

The New Yorker

I watched and marvelled and was greatly surprised.

The New Yorker

And yet, even here, we were greatly surprised by the intelligence and refinement of the inhabitants.

Cornell University

This greatly surprised all concerned, including the IMF, which predicted 2%.

The Economist

"I'm greatly surprised that they would attack us ferociously for something they are doing themselves," Mr. Melton said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

In the course of his voyage along the coast of Asia he came to Ionia; and here I have a marvel to relate which will greatly surprise those Greeks who cannot believe that Otanes advised the seven conspirators to make Persia a commonwealth.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Independence is as unpopular as it has ever been". The polling results will not greatly surprise the "yes" campaign but Darling's intervention marks the first head-on challenge for Salmond by the anti-independence coalition formed by the three main pro-UK parties of Labour, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats, which is expected to launch formally in June.

The Guardian

When we started throwing pebbles into the big lake of social change, we knew we were making waves, big waves, but we had no idea how theses waves would alter the shore over time -- and that some of them will greatly surprise us.

Huffington Post

None of this greatly surprises cricket watchers.

The New York Times - Sports

Despite being greatly outspent, she surprised many observers by defeating two prominent Republicans in the primary and then former senator Bob Kerrey in the general election.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "greatly surprised" to emphasize a high degree of astonishment or unexpectedness, especially in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid overuse in informal contexts; alternatives like "very surprised" or "really surprised" may sound more natural. Reserve "greatly surprised" for situations where the surprise is genuinely significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "greatly surprised" functions as a verb phrase where "greatly" modifies the verb "surprised", intensifying the feeling of surprise. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

16%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "greatly surprised" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to express a significant degree of surprise. As Ludwig AI confirms, its correctness is not in question. It's suitable for neutral to formal contexts, appearing frequently in news and academic writing. When a less emphatic tone is desired, consider alternatives like "very surprised" or "really surprised". Though versatile, avoid overuse in very informal settings where it might sound stilted. The phrase effectively conveys a strong feeling of unexpectedness or astonishment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hugely surprised

Indicates a very large degree of surprise, similar to "greatly surprised" but with a slightly more informal tone.

extremely surprised

Emphasizes the intensity of the surprise, comparable to "greatly surprised" in conveying a high level of astonishment.

considerably surprised

Highlights the significant extent to which someone is surprised, akin to "greatly surprised" in terms of impact.

very surprised

A more general and less emphatic way of expressing surprise compared to "greatly surprised".

utterly astonished

Conveys a sense of complete amazement and shock, which is a stronger reaction than simply being "greatly surprised".

taken aback

Suggests a momentary shock or surprise that causes hesitation, implying a more reactive surprise.

caught off guard

Implies a surprise due to a lack of preparedness or anticipation, differing from the more general surprise in "greatly surprised".

amazed

Focuses on the feeling of wonder and astonishment, which may not always be present in a situation where someone is "greatly surprised".

startled

Indicates a sudden, often physical, reaction to surprise, implying a more abrupt and potentially frightening experience.

shocked

Suggests a strong, often negative, surprise that can be emotionally unsettling, diverging from the more neutral surprise in "greatly surprised".

FAQs

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

You can use "greatly surprised" to express a strong feeling of astonishment. For example: "I was greatly surprised by the unexpected news" or "She was greatly surprised to see him at the party".

What can I say instead of "greatly surprised"?

You can use alternatives like "hugely surprised", "extremely surprised", or "very surprised" depending on the context.

Is "greatly surprised" formal or informal?

"Greatly surprised" leans towards a more formal register. In informal settings, alternatives like "really surprised" or "very surprised" might be more appropriate.

Which is correct, "greatly surprised" or "greatly astonishing"?

"Greatly surprised" is the correct and more common phrasing to describe someone experiencing surprise. "Greatly astonishing" would describe something that causes great surprise in others, not the feeling itself. You could say, "The magician's trick was greatly astonishing".