- (n.) The act of coming upon or taking, unawares; the act of seizing unexpectedly; surprisal; as, the fort was taken by surprise.
- (n.) To come or fall suddenly and unexpectedly; to take unawares; to seize or capture by unexpected attack.
- (n.) To strike with wonder, astonishment or confusion, by something sudden, unexpected or remarkable; to confound; as, his conduct surprised me.
- (n.) Anything that causes such a state or emotion.
- (n.) 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.
- (n.) To hold possession of; to hold.
- (n.) A dish covered with a crust of raised paste, but with no other contents.
- (n.) 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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
| APA | Webster's. (2011). surprise. Retrieved September 23, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/surprise/definitions/2069052 |
| Chicago | Webster's. 2011. "surprise" http://smartdefine.org/surprise/definitions/2069052 (accessed September 23, 2026). |
| Harvard | Webster's 2011, surprise, Smart Define, viewed 23 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/surprise/definitions/2069052>. |
| MLA | Webster's. "surprise" 28 May 2011. Web. 23 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/surprise/definitions/2069052> |