astounded

Meaning

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Extremely surprised, to the point of having trouble believing what has happened.

   Grammar: Usually after a linking verb and followed by at or by: she was astounded by the news.

   Patterns

   • astounded at something
   • astounded by something
   • astounded to hear something

   I was astounded to learn she had run the marathon in under three hours.

   The audience sat astounded by the magician's final trick.

   He looked astounded at the price on the bill.

Word forms

Common combinations

astounded by

We were astounded by the generosity of strangers.

astounded at

She was astounded at how quickly the room filled.

absolutely astounded

I was absolutely astounded when my name was called.

astounded to find

They were astounded to find the door unlocked.

stand astounded

The crowd stood astounded as the building collapsed.

Synonyms and how they differ

amazed

Amazed is the most common word and is usually pleasant, while astounded is stronger and can suggest shock.

astonished

Astonished is very close to astounded; astounded often implies a bigger jolt that is hard to accept.

stunned

Stunned suggests being so shocked that you cannot react, while astounded focuses on the surprise.

surprised

Surprised is milder and more general, and does not suggest disbelief.

Opposites

Word family

astound verb

To surprise someone greatly.

astounding adjective

Extremely surprising or impressive.

astoundingly adverb

In a way that causes great surprise.

Commonly confused: astounded or astounding?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “astounded”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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