not even surprised

USAGE SUMMARY

"not even surprised" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you are expressing that you were not surprised by something. For example, "I saw that it was raining so I was not even surprised."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

He is not even surprised.

The New Yorker

We're not even surprised if a guy in a girdle vents what sounds like feminist pride.

The New York Times

Khodorkovsky said in a statement that he was "not even surprised that Putin and his entourage are capable of vile tricks, deception, forgery and manipulation.

The Guardian

But he was not surprised when he was cut, and he was not even surprised when he did not qualify for a hockey scholarship to United States International University near San Diego.

The New York Times - Sports

But then I snipped Kieran's umbilical cord and took him in my arms, and he stared up at me, not even surprised, and held my finger with the fierce grip that kept his simian ancestors from plummeting to the forest floor, and I whispered that I'd never let him go — and I never will.

The New York Times - Magazine

I'm not even surprised that the federal government still considers pot as dangerous as an Uzi.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Vietnam did not even surprise him.

The New York Times

In fact, they might not even surprise Charles Dow, who created the Industrial Average in 1896.

The New York Times - Magazine

It did not even surprise me, after a swarm of stinging insects took over the sidewalk, to see the city's response: a sawhorse with a blinking light that warned against disturbing the honeybees' hive.

The New York Times - Tech

Coarse language has become part of the public discourse and does not even surprise us anymore, even in Congress the language of courtesy is diminished... maybe even accepted?

Huffington Post

I wasn't even surprised.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not even surprised" to convey a sense of resignation or acceptance, especially when discussing predictable negative outcomes or recurring issues.

Common error

While acceptable, "not even surprised" can sound informal. In professional or academic writing, consider more neutral alternatives like "unsurprising" or "predictable" to maintain a more detached tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not even surprised" functions as an adjectival phrase expressing a lack of astonishment or expectation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not even surprised" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable expression used to convey a lack of surprise, frequently tinged with resignation or anticipation. Ludwig AI analysis indicates the phrase functions primarily as an adjectival phrase and is most commonly found in News & Media, Academic or Formal & Business contexts. While the expression is considered correct, writers should remain aware of the formality level they need to use since there are more neutral alternatives (such as "unsurprising" or "predictable") that may better serve a more detached and professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsurprised

This is a direct synonym, indicating a lack of surprise.

not at all surprised

This alternative amplifies the lack of surprise, emphasizing the absence of astonishment.

hardly surprising

This emphasizes that the event was not unexpected.

unfazed

This alternative suggests a calm and composed reaction, lacking any surprise or disturbance.

it came as no surprise

This alternative highlights that the event was predictable and did not cause any astonishment.

it was expected

This phrase indicates that the event was anticipated, thus eliminating any surprise.

it was bound to happen

This idiom suggests inevitability, removing any element of surprise.

I saw it coming

This idiom expresses anticipation of an event, negating any surprise.

predictable

This adjective describes something easily foreseen, hence not surprising.

foreseeable

Similar to 'predictable', this indicates an event that could be anticipated.

FAQs

How can I use "not even surprised" in a sentence?

You can use "not even surprised" to express a lack of astonishment at something that has happened, especially if it was expected or predictable. For example, "Given his history, I was "not even surprised" when he failed to show up on time."

What's a more formal way to say "not even surprised"?

In formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "unsurprising", "predictable", or "it came as no surprise" to maintain a more neutral and professional tone.

Is "not even surprised" grammatically correct?

Yes, "not even surprised" is grammatically correct and commonly used in spoken and written English, as validated by Ludwig AI. However, be mindful of the context and formality of your writing.

What's the difference between "not surprised" and "not even surprised"?

"Not surprised" simply indicates a lack of surprise. Adding "even" emphasizes the lack of surprise, often implying a sense of resignation or inevitability. The latter is considered to be a stronger emphasis in the lack of surprise, as highlighted by Ludwig.