surprise

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "surprise" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express unexpected events or emotions. For example: "The surprise birthday party was a great success!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is no surprise.

The New York Times

This was no surprise.

The New York Times

No surprise there.

The New York Times

The failure of The Hurricane to win a best picture nomination was a surprise.

The Guardian - Film

This was a surprise.

The New York Times

The news came as a surprise to nationalist colleagues, although Mr Mallon is a year older than Mr Hume, who is retiring on health grounds.

The Guardian

The biggest surprise was the inclusion of the Welsh film, Solomon and Gaenor, in the shortlist for best foreign language film.

The Guardian - Film

Well, Daiches, now deceased, would have a pleasant surprise if he could try the Nikka Pure Malt Black, a blend from Taketsuru's two distilleries.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

So, no great surprise about the result from Clacton (Ukip's electoral breakthrough, 10 October).

The Guardian

Upstream capital spending edged lower last year, falling to $147.4bn as companies reacted to the surprise fall in the oil price, the first dip in upstream investments in at least nine years.

The Guardian

No surprise here – Carney's not biting: If that's winning it's not worth winning.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "surprise" as a verb, ensure the subject can logically perform the action of surprising. For instance, "The news surprised me" is correct, while "I was surprise" is not; it should be "I was surprised."

Common error

Many writers confuse the adjectives "surprised" and "surprising". "Surprised" describes someone experiencing surprise (e.g. I was surprised), while "surprising" describes something that causes surprise (e.g. The result was surprising).

Linguistic Context

The word "surprise" functions primarily as a noun referring to something unexpected or as a transitive verb meaning to cause someone to feel amazement or wonder. Ludwig confirms its usability as both.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "surprise" is a versatile term, functioning both as a noun and a verb to denote unexpected events or feelings of astonishment. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across diverse contexts. The word is very common, appearing most frequently in news and media. While grammatically straightforward, writers should pay attention to related terms, especially distinguishing between "surprised" (experiencing surprise) and "surprising" (causing surprise). To add variety to your writing, consider alternatives like "unexpected event", "astonishing occurrence", or other semantically related phrases, but make sure you select carefully the term that better express the intensity you are aiming to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unexpected event

Focuses on the event being unanticipated.

astonishing occurrence

Highlights the level of amazement caused.

sudden revelation

Emphasizes the abrupt unveiling of information.

unforeseen incident

Similar to "unexpected event" but perhaps carrying a slightly more negative connotation.

startling discovery

Focuses on the act of finding something unexpected.

out of the blue

An idiom for something happening unexpectedly.

bolt from the blue

An idiom conveying suddenness and unexpectedness often with negative connotations

awe-inspiring moment

Highlights the feeling of reverence from an unexpected encounter.

eye-opener

Emphasizes the revealing nature of the unexpected event.

unanticipated twist

Highlights unexpected changes in plot or circumstance.

FAQs

How can I use "surprise" in a sentence?

You can use "surprise" as a noun (e.g., "The party was a complete surprise") or as a verb (e.g., "The news surprised me").

What's the difference between "surprised" and "surprising"?

"Surprised" describes the feeling of someone who experiences surprise, while "surprising" describes something that causes the surprise. For example, "I was "surprised" by the "surprising" news."

What are some synonyms for "surprise" as a noun?

Synonyms for "surprise" as a noun include "astonishment", "amazement", or "shock".

Can "surprise" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "surprise" is appropriate for both formal and informal writing, though the specific context may influence word choice. In some formal contexts, "astonishment" or "unexpected event" might be more suitable.