surprised

USAGE SUMMARY

"surprised" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adjective, and is typically used to describe someone's emotional reaction to something. Example: She was surprised when she received a bouquet of flowers from her boyfriend.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Am I surprised?

The New York Times

I was very surprised.

The New York Times - Food

That surprised me.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I AM very surprised.

The Economist

M Zola remarked that it surprised him that no novelist had depicted the great city thoroughly.

The Guardian - Books

"I wasn't surprised about Ukip's advance.

The Guardian

Even the boss looks surprised at what his customers will buy - and Archie certainly wouldn't wear it.

The Guardian - Business

Staff and patents leaving the hospital appeared surprised at the news that an incident had been declared.

The Guardian

We were all surprised when Lynne Truss's bestseller, Eats, Shoots and Leaves, proved that people are passionate about apostrophes.

The Guardian - Books

Representative Tom Massie, a Kentucky Republican who came to the Senate floor to witness the vote Saturday morning, told reporters he was surprised at how strongly many of his fellow Republicans felt about the compromise reform bill.

The Guardian

"Chelsea surprised everybody this season with the start they had.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "surprised" to describe an emotional reaction to an unexpected event or piece of information. Ensure that the context clearly indicates what caused the surprise.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions after "surprised". While "surprised by" and "surprised at" are common, ensure they fit the context. "Surprised with" is used when someone receives something unexpected, while "surprised by/at" refers to the cause of the surprise.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "surprised" is as an adjective, describing a state of feeling or emotion resulting from an unexpected event. Ludwig AI shows this use is consistent across numerous examples, indicating its reliability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "surprised" functions primarily as an adjective to denote a feeling of unexpectedness or astonishment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and commonly used, particularly in news and media. When writing, ensure the context clearly indicates the cause of the surprise and use the correct preposition. While alternatives like "astonished" or "amazed" can be used, "surprised" maintains a generally neutral tone suitable for various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

astonished

Indicates a higher degree of surprise or amazement.

amazed

Emphasizes a feeling of wonder and delight in addition to surprise.

startled

Highlights a sudden, often physical, reaction to something unexpected.

taken aback

Suggests a momentary shock or bewilderment.

caught off guard

Focuses on the unpreparedness of the person experiencing the surprise.

flabbergasted

Implies being utterly astonished and speechless.

dumbfounded

Similar to flabbergasted, but emphasizes being unable to speak due to surprise.

shocked

Indicates a strong feeling of surprise, often associated with negative events.

incredulous

Implies disbelief alongside surprise, often questioning the truth of something.

bewildered

Highlights confusion and disorientation caused by the surprise.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "surprised"?

You can use alternatives like "astonished", "amazed", or "startled" depending on the context.

How to use "surprised" in a sentence?

You can use "surprised" to describe someone's reaction to something unexpected. For example, "She was surprised by the sudden announcement" or "They seemed surprised at the news."

Which is correct, "surprised by" or "surprised at"?

"Surprised by" and "surprised at" are both correct, but "surprised by" is more commonly used when referring to the cause of the surprise. "Surprised at" is used when you are surprised by an event. For example, "I was surprised by the gift" or "I was surprised at how easy it was".

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

While both imply unexpectedness, "shocked" suggests a stronger, often negative, emotional impact compared to "surprised". You might be "surprised" by a party, but "shocked" by a tragic event.