surprise to make someone feel surprised, especially because they did not expect something:
Her reaction surprised me – I didn’t realize how strongly she felt. What surprised me was how cheap everything was compared to at home.amaze to greatly surprise someone, for example because something is very good, unusual, or hard to believe:
He amazed everyone with his skill. It amazes me that no one has thought of the idea before.astonish to greatly surprise someone:
Myra astonished her doctors by recovering so quickly.astound to greatly surprise or shock someone.
Astound sounds a little more formal and a little stronger than
astonish:
What astounded him was their inefficiency.take somebody by surprise to happen at an unexpected time, so that people are surprised or unprepared:
Security men were taken by surprise as the man ran onto the stage. His resignation took us by surprise.startle to make someone feel surprised or slightly frightened by doing something they did not expect:
The wind made the door shut with a crash, which startled her. Sudden movements may startle the horse. [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲
take by surprise v. phr. 1. To appear in front of someone suddenly or to suddenly discover him before he discovers you; come before (someone) is ready; appear before (someone) unexpectedly.
The policeman took the burglar by surprise as he opened the window. When Mrs. Green's dinner guests came half an hour early, they took her by surprise. 2. To fill with surprise or amazement; astonish.
Ellen was taken by surprise when the birthday cake was brought in. When our teacher quit in the middle of the year to work for the government, it took us all by surprise. [TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲