Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense surprises, present participle surprising, past tense, past participle surprised
1. countable noun
A surprise is an unexpected event, fact, or piece of news.
I have a surprise for you: We are moving to Switzerland!
It may come as a surprise to some that a child is born with many skills. [+ to]
It is perhaps no surprise to see another 80s singing star attempting a comeback.
Synonyms: shock, start, revelation, jolt More Synonyms of surprise
Surprise is also an adjective.
Baxter arrived here this afternoon, on a surprise visit.
German intelligence expected Japan to launch a surprise attack on the U.S..
2. uncountable noun
Surprise is the feeling that you have when something unexpected happens.
The Foreign Office in London has expressed surprise at these allegations.
'You mean he's going to vote against her?' Scobie asked in surprise.
I started working hard for the first time in my life. To my surprise, I liked it.
Synonyms: amazement, astonishment, wonder, disbelief More Synonyms of surprise
3. verb
If something surprises you, it gives you a feeling of surprise.
We'll solve the case ourselves and surprise everyone. [VERB noun]
It surprised me that someone of her experience should make those mistakes. [VERB noun that]
It wouldn't surprise me if there was such chaos after this election that anotherhad to be held. [V n if]
They were served lamb and she surprised herself by eating greedily. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
Synonyms: amaze, astonish, astound, stun More Synonyms of surprise
4. verb
If you surprise someone, you give them, tell them, or do something pleasant that they are not expecting.
Surprise a new neighbour with one of your favourite home-made dishes. [VERB noun + with]
[Also VERB noun]
5. countable noun
If you describe someone or something as a surprise, you mean that they are very good or pleasant although you were not expecting this.
She was one of the surprises of the World Championships three months ago.
My father decided to slip a little extra spending money into my purse as a surprise.
6. verb
If you surprise someone, you attack, capture, or find them when they are not expecting it.
Marlborough surprised the French and Bavarian armies near the village of Blenheim. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: catch unawares or off-guard, catch napping, catch on the hop [informal], burst in on More Synonyms of surprise
7. See also surprised, surprising
8.
See surprise, surprise
9.
See surprise, surprise
10.
See to take someone by surprise
surprise in British English
(səˈpraɪz)
verb(transitive)
1.
to cause to feel amazement or wonder
2.
to encounter or discover unexpectedly or suddenly
3.
to capture or assault suddenly and without warning
4.
to present with something unexpected, such as a gift
5. (foll by into)
to provoke (someone) to unintended action by a trick, etc
to surprise a person into an indiscretion
6. (often foll by from)
to elicit by unexpected behaviour or by a trick
to surprise information from a prisoner
noun
7.
the act or an instance of surprising; the act of taking unawares
8.
a sudden or unexpected event, gift, etc
9.
the feeling or condition of being surprised; astonishment
10. (modifier)
causing, characterized by, or relying upon surprise
a surprise move
11. take by surprise
Derived forms
surprisal (surˈprisal)
noun
surprised (surˈprised)
adjective
surprisedly (səˈpraɪzɪdlɪ)
adverb
surpriser (surˈpriser)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Old French, from surprendre to overtake, from sur-1 + prendre from Latin prehendere to grasp; see prehensile
surprise in American English
(sərˈpraɪz; səˈpraɪz)
verb transitiveWord forms: surˈprised or surˈprising
1.
to come upon suddenly or unexpectedly; take unawares
2.
to attack or capture suddenly and without warning
3.
a.
to cause to feel wonder or astonishment by being unexpected
b.
to present (someone) unexpectedly with a gift, etc.
4.
a.
to cause by some unexpected action to do or say something unintended
to surprise someone into an admission
b.
to bring out or elicit by such means
to surprise an admission from someone
noun
5. Rare
the act of surprising or taking unawares
6.
an unexpected seizure or attack
7.
the state of being surprised; feeling aroused by something unusual or unexpected; wonder or astonishment
8.
something that surprises because unexpected, unusual, etc.
Idioms:
take by surprise
SYNONYMY NOTE: surprise, in this connection, implies an affecting with wonder because of being unexpected,unusual, etc. [I'm surprised at your concern]; astonish implies a surprising with something that seems unbelievable [to astonish with sleight of hand]; amaze suggests an astonishing that causes bewilderment or confusion [amazed at the sudden turn of events]; astound suggests a shocking astonishment that leaves one helpless to act or think [I was astounded by the proposal]; flabbergast is a colloquial term suggesting an astounding to the point of speechlessness
Derived forms
surprisedly (surˈprisedly)
adverb
surpriser (surˈpriser)
noun
Word origin
ME surprysen < OFr surpris, pp. of sorprendre, to surprise, take napping < sur- (see sur-1) + prendre, to take (see prize2)
COBUILD Collocations
surprise
express surprise
nasty surprise
pleasant surprise
spring a surprise
unpleasant surprise
Examples of 'surprise' in a sentence
surprise
Unexpected opportunities and surprise arrivals add excitement to your day.
The Sun (2011)
Time to surprise people who need it more.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The biggest surprise in this colourful biography is that its subject allowed it to be published.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You could be surprised by which one you prefer.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
What began as bewilderment at the surprise attack turned rapidly to seething defensiveness.
Christianity Today (2000)
Your new love choices are good but surprise your pals.
The Sun (2007)
The allied attack had come as something of a surprise to him.
Iain Gale Man of Honour (2007)
Definitely could spring another surprise at a big price.
The Sun (2010)
The results are hardly a big surprise.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The music icon disappeared for years before a surprise solo comeback this year.
The Sun (2013)
The surprising fact was that there was no corruption.
Brian Hoey AT HOME WITH THE QUEEN: The Inside Story of the Royal Household (2002)
Their first surprise was to discover they were not in the minority.
Davey, Ray Rev. & Cole, John A Channel of Peace (1993)
To beat them all again was an unexpected surprise.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There was no time to be surprised.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The big surprise was how easy it was.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Everything that happens is inevitable and yet comes as a surprise.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And they would not be surprised if one bidder drops out.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
What he is good at is surprising you.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Cynics are not surprised that politicians say one thing when they are campaigning and another when they are in power.
The Sun (2011)
Which country could cause a surprise?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
My mother could say the most surprising things, producing them seemingly out of the blue.
Aidan Hartley THE ZANZIBAR CHEST: A Memoir of Love and War (2003)
Quotations
Surprises are foolish things. The pleasure is not enhanced, and the inconvenience is often considerableJane AustenEmma
In other languages
surprise
British English: surprise /səˈpraɪz/ NOUN
A surprise is an unexpected event, fact, or piece of news.
I have a surprise for you: We are moving to Switzerland!
American English: surprise
Arabic: مُفَاجَأَة
Brazilian Portuguese: surpresa
Chinese: 惊喜
Croatian: iznenađenje
Czech: překvapení
Danish: overraskelse
Dutch: verrassing
European Spanish: sorpresa
Finnish: yllätys
French: surprise
German: Überraschung
Greek: έκπληξη
Italian: sopresa
Japanese: 驚き
Korean: 놀람
Norwegian: overraskelse
Polish: niespodzianka
European Portuguese: surpresa
Romanian: surpriză
Russian: удивление
Latin American Spanish: sorpresa
Swedish: överraskning
Thai: ความประหลาดใจ
Turkish: sürpriz
Ukrainian: сюрприз
Vietnamese: sự ngạc nhiên
British English: surprise VERB
If something surprises you, it gives you a feeling of surprise.
We'll solve the case ourselves and surprise everyone.
American English: surprise
Brazilian Portuguese: surpreender
Chinese: 使吃惊
European Spanish: sorprender
French: surprendre
German: überraschen
Italian: stupire
Japanese: 驚かせる
Korean: 놀라게 하다
European Portuguese: surpreender
Latin American Spanish: sorprender
All related terms of 'surprise'
surprise, surprise
You can say ' surprise , surprise ' if you disapprove of something because it is not surprising or original , or could easily have been predicted .
nasty surprise
A surprise is an unexpected event, fact, or piece of news .
surprise party
a party or enjoyable social event arranged secretly in order to surprise somebody
express surprise
Surprise is the feeling that you have when something unexpected happens .
October surprise
a major event, occurring shortly before a presidential election , which influences the result
pleasant surprise
A surprise is an unexpected event, fact, or piece of news .
surprise arrival
You can refer to someone who has just arrived at a place as a new arrival .
surprise element
The different elements of something are the different parts it contains.
spring a surprise
A surprise is an unexpected event, fact, or piece of news .
surprise announcement
An announcement is a statement made to the public or to the media which gives information about something that has happened or that will happen.
take by surprise
to come upon suddenly and without warning
unpleasant surprise
A surprise is an unexpected event, fact, or piece of news .
to take someone by surprise
If something takes you by surprise , it happens when you are not expecting it or when you are not prepared for it.