What does surprised mean?
Surprised describes a person who feels, or appears to feel, wonder because something happened unexpectedly. It often suggests that a planned expectation was overturned, although the emotion can be pleasant, neutral, or even unwelcome: someone may be surprised by good news, an unusual coincidence, or a decision that others had considered certain. The word can function as an adjective before a noun, as in a surprised visitor, or after a linking verb, as in the visitor was surprised. It is also the past tense and past participle of surprise, meaning to cause wonder or catch someone off guard. In ordinary use, surprised focuses on the experience and reaction, while surprising focuses on the event that produces the reaction.
Feeling or showing wonder or astonishment because something unexpected has happened.
"A surprised expression crossed her face when she saw the gift."
Usually used predicatively with a form of be, or attributively before a noun.
The past tense and past participle of surprise, meaning to cause someone to feel wonder or astonishment.
"The unexpected result surprised the defending champion."
As a verb form, it is typically used in the past or past participle.
Surprise captures the moment when expectation gives way to astonishment.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does surprised come from?
The word belongs to the French-derived vocabulary of surprise, which ultimately comes from an Old French word meaning to overtake or seize unexpectedly. In English, surprise developed both the noun meaning an unexpected event and the verb meaning to astonish someone. The past form and participle surprised follow the regular modern English formation for verbs ending in -ise.
Related word forms
How surprised is actually used
Surprised is commonly used with the preposition by: surprised by an announcement. The phrase surprised at can occur before a particular reaction or source: surprised at the result.
Easily confused with surprised
Surprised describes the feeling of a person who has encountered something unexpected, while surprising describes the event or thing that causes that feeling.