Definitions for SURPRISE
sərˈpraɪz, sə-sur·prise

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. surprisenoun

   the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

2. surprisenoun

   a sudden unexpected event

3. surprise, surprisalverb

   the act of surprising someone

4. surpriseverb

   cause to be surprised

   "The news really surprised me"

5. surpriseverb

   come upon or take unawares

   "She surprised the couple"; "He surprised an interesting scene"

6. storm, surpriseverb

   attack by storm; attack suddenly

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. surprisenoun

   Something not expected.

   It was a surprise to find out I owed twice as much as I thought I did.

2. surprisenoun

   Unexpected.

   The surprise attack was devastating.

3. surprisenoun

   The feeling that something unexpected has happened.

   Imagine my surprise on learning I owed twice as much as I thought I did.

4. surpriseverb

   To cause (someone) to feel unusually alarmed or delighted.

   It surprises me that I owe twice as much as I thought I did.

5. surpriseverb

   To do something to (a person) that they are not expecting, as a surprise.

   He doesn't know that I'm in the country - I thought I'd turn up at his house and surprise him.

6. surpriseverb

   To undergo or witness something unexpected.

   He doesn't surprise easily.

7. surpriseverb

   To cause surprise.

8. surpriseverb

   To attack unexpectedly.

9. surpriseverb

   To take unawares.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Surprisal, Surprisenoun

   Etymology: surprise, French; from the verb.

   1. The act of taking unawares; the state of being taken unawares.

   Parents should mark heedfully the witty excuses of their children, especially at suddains and surprisals; but rather mark than pamper them Henry Wotton.

   This let him know,
   Lest, wilfully transgressing, he pretend
   Suprisal, unadmonish’d, unforewarn’d. John Milton, Par. Lost.

   I set aside the taking of St. Jago and St. Domingo in Hispaniola, as surprizes rather than encounters. Francis Bacon.

   This strange surprisal put the knight
   And wrathful squire into a fright. Hudibras.

   There is a vast difference between them, as vast as between inadvertency and deliberation, between surprize and set purpose. South.

   2. A dish, I suppose, which has nothing in it.

   Few care for carving trifles in disguise,
   Or that fantastick dish some call surprise. William King, Cookery.

   3. Sudden confusion or perplexity.

2. To SURPRISEverb

   Etymology: surpris, French, from surprendre.

   1. To take unawares; to fall upon unexpectedly.

   The castle of Macduff I will surprise,
   Seize upon Fife, give to the edge o’th’sword
   His wife, his babes. William Shakespeare, Macbeth.

   Now do our ears before our eyes,
   Like men in mists,
   Discover who’d the state surprize,
   And who resists. Ben Jonson.

   Bid her well beware,
   Lest, by some fair appearing good surpris’d,
   She dictate false, and misinform the will. John Milton.

   How shall he keep, what, sleeping or awake,
   A weaker may surprise, a stronger take? Alexander Pope.

   Who can speak
   The mingled passions that surpriz’d his heart! James Thomson.

   2. To astonish by something wonderful.

   People were not so much frighted as surprized at the bigness of the camel. Roger L'Estrange.

   3. To confuse or perplex by something sudden.

   Up he starts, discover’d and surpris’d. John Milton.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. surprise

   Surprise is a sudden unexpected event, fact, or thing that causes a strong emotional response, such as shock, disbelief, excitement or awe. It is an abrupt or startling change from an anticipated outcome or situation, often leading to a brief moment of disorientation or confusion. Surprise can also refer to the feeling experienced upon discovery of something new or unknown.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Surprisenoun

   the act of coming upon, or taking, unawares; the act of seizing unexpectedly; surprisal; as, the fort was taken by surprise

2. Surprisenoun

   the state of being surprised, or taken unawares, by some act or event which could not reasonably be foreseen; emotion excited by what is sudden and strange; a suddenly excited feeling of wonder or astonishment

3. Surprisenoun

   anything that causes such a state or emotion

4. Surprisenoun

   a dish covered with a crust of raised paste, but with no other contents

5. Surprisenoun

   to come or fall suddenly and unexpectedly; to take unawares; to seize or capture by unexpected attack

6. Surprisenoun

   to strike with wonder, astonishment, or confusion, by something sudden, unexpected, or remarkable; to confound; as, his conduct surprised me

7. Surprisenoun

   to lead (one) to do suddenly and without forethought; to bring (one) into some unexpected state; -- with into; as, to be surprised into an indiscretion; to be surprised into generosity

8. Surprisenoun

   to hold possession of; to hold

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Surprise

   sur-prīz′, n. act of taking unawares: the emotion caused by anything sudden: amazement.—v.t. to come upon suddenly or unawares: to lead or bring unawares, to betray (with into): to strike with wonder or astonishment: to confuse.—n. Surprīs′al, act of surprising.—adv. Surprīs′edly.—adj. Surprīs′ing, exciting surprise: wonderful: unexpected.—adv. Surprīs′ingly.—n. Surprīs′ingness. [Fr.,—surpris, pa.p. of surprendre—L. super, over, prehendĕre, to catch.]

Military Dictionary and GazetteerRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. surprise

   In war, to fall on an enemy unexpectedly, in marching through narrow and difficult passes, when one part of an army has passed, and is not able to come at once to the succor of the other; as in the passage of woods, rivers, inclosures, etc. A place is surprised by drains, casements, or the issues of rivers or canals; by encumbering the bridge or gate, or by wagons meeting and stopping each other; or by sending soldiers into the place, under pretense of being deserters, who, on entering, surprise the guard, being sustained by troops at hand in ambush, to whom they give entrance, and thereby seize the place. Military history abounds with instances of successful surprises.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. surprise

   To bring, give or receive a joyful, logical and just contribution or gift.

   We all love our family so we regularly arrange a family gathering for us all, we love to surprise with the type of food we contribute.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on April 16, 2016  

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. surprise

   The surprise symbol -- In this Symbols.com article you will learn about the meaning of the surprise symbol and its characteristic.

Surnames Frequency by Census RecordsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. SURPRISE

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Surprise is ranked #43006 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
   
   The Surprise surname appeared 503 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Surprise.
   
   85.2% or 429 total occurrences were White.
   8.5% or 43 total occurrences were Black.
   3.5% or 18 total occurrences were of two or more races.
   1.5% or 8 total occurrences were Asian.

Matched Categories

1. • Act
   • Affect
   • Astonishment
   • Attack
   • Change

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'SURPRISE' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2153

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'SURPRISE' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3235

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'SURPRISE' in Nouns Frequency: #903

4. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'SURPRISE' in Verbs Frequency: #894

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

1. 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How to pronounce SURPRISE?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say SURPRISE in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of SURPRISE in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of SURPRISE in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of SURPRISE in a Sentence

1. Ron Wyden:

   We now have an Interior secretary who has been on the job for one full business day and is already under investigation, with Bernhardt's track record and the number of allegations against David Bernhardt, it's no surprise. At least now, the American people will finally get the answers they deserve.

2. Mitch McConnell:

   It won't surprise any of you to know, I’d like to elect a president and I'm hoping this process leads to nominating somebody who can win election.

3. Michael James:

   The (ECB) commentary clearly caught people by surprise. I think most currency traders were short the euro and long the dollar, expecting different commentary from chairman Draghi.

4. Professor Huang:

   It is no surprise that the government seeks to control related scientific research so that the findings do not challenge its own narrative on the origin of the virus and the government response to the crisis, the danger is that when scientific research is subject to the needs of those in power, it further undermines the credibility of the government narrative, making accusations of underreporting and misinformation more convincing.

5. Brad Parscale:

   Although Matt Bevin has not outlined Matt Bevin next steps, Kentucky law provides for a variety of possiblechallenges -- including a recount, a recanvass, or a legal challenge to the election based on irregularities. There is no automatic recount process under Kentucky law. TRUMP CALLS ON ANGRY MAJORITY TO BOOST Matt Bevin, IN NOD TO REAGANS MORAL MAJORITY AND NIXONS SILENT MAJORITY Regardless of the final outcome, the razor-thin margin in the race did not come as a surprise Republicans. Although President Trump carried deep-red Kentucky by 30 points in the 2016 presidential election, Matt Bevin has long beenunusually unpopular for a Republican in the state, owing in part to President Trump numerous spats with striking public school teachers and President Trump plan to address a growing pension crisis. Kentucky Governor and Republican gubernatorial candidate Matt Bevin, right, shakes hands with a poll worker after casting Kentucky Governor ballot in the state's general election in Louisville, Ky., Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. ( AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley) Bevinsignificantly underperformedthe rest of the The GOP ticket on the ballot in Kentucky on Tuesday, as Republican Daniel Cameron handily won hisrace to become the states next attorney general. Cameronmade history as thefirst African-American to be electedKentucky Attorney Generaland the first Republican to hold the post in more than 70 years. DEMS SWEEP VIRGINIA STATE HOUSE, SENATE ELECTIONS, CAPPING STATES DRAMATIC LEFTWARD SHIFT In a major indicatorthat Bevin isunpopular among Kentuckians, Republican Daniel Cameron received 774,864 votes in his 15-percentage-point win -- while Matt Bevin garnered only approximately 700,000 votes for Matt Bevin marquee gubernatorial bid. It is highly unusual for down-ballot races to attract more voter interest than gubernatorial contests. Republican Daniel Cameron was elected the state's first-ever black Attorney General on Tuesday. ( AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File) Meanwhile, Republican attorney and former elections board member Michael Adams was easily elected as Kentuckys next secretary of state, andRepublican Mike Harmon wasre-elected as Kentucky auditor. Additionally, Republican Ryan Quarles was re-elected as Kentucky commissioner of agriculture, and The GOP incumbent Allison Ball won a second term as Kentuckys treasurer. Those results -- and Bevins unique vulnerabilities -- led Kentucky Republicans to dismiss claims that the gubernatorial race had any meaningfulnational implications. President Trumps rally helped five of six Kentucky Republicans win clear statewide victories, including Attorney General-elect Republican Daniel Cameron, who will be the first black A.G. in Kentucky history and the first Republican to hold the office since 1948, the President just about dragged Gov. Matt Bevin across the finish line, helping him run stronger than expected in what turned into a very close race at the end. A final outcome remains to be seen. However, in what could be a worrying sign for Republicans in the long term, Matt Bevin underperformed inNorthern Kentucky, typically a The GOP stronghold, and among suburban voters in several counties outside of Cincinnati. Apparently aware of his problems with voters, Matt Bevin had remarkedin February.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=SURPRISE
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Surprise
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=SURPRISE
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/SURPRISE
6. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=SURPRISE
7. ^ Military Dictionary and Gazetteer
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/59563/pg59563-images.html
8. ^ Surnames Frequency by Census Records
   https://www.census.gov/topics/population/genealogy/data/2010_surnames.html
9. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=SURPRISE