surprisingly

word · lemma: surprising

/səˈpɹaɪzɪŋɫi/
sur-PRY-zing-lee
/səpɹˈaɪzɪŋli/
suh-PRY-zing-lee

Definition

Used to say that something is unexpected or not what you thought would happen.

Usage & Nuances

Commonly starts sentences or phrases. Often followed by a comma: 'Surprisingly, he passed the test.' Used in both spoken and written English. Not as strong as 'shockingly' or 'astonishingly.'

Example Sentences

Surprisingly, the weather was warm in December.

basic

He answered the question surprisingly quickly.

basic

The test was surprisingly easy.

basic

Surprisingly, nobody complained about the noise last night.

natural

He was surprisingly calm during the emergency.

natural

Surprisingly, she didn’t like the movie, even though everyone else loved it.

natural