What is surprisingly? Pronunciation and usage in English

surprisingly means . Learn how to pronounce and use surprisingly through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of surprisingly

surprisinglyadverb

/səˈprʌɪzɪŋli/
Definition & pronunciation of surprisingly

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "surprisingly." It's a tricky one for many learners! Here's the breakdown:

1. Syllables: It's generally broken down into three syllables:

  • Sur - (Like the word "sure")
  • pris - (Rhymes with "kiss")
  • ingly - (Rhymes with "lingering")

2. Detailed Pronunciation:

  • "Sur": This is a short, quick "uh" sound. Think of it like the beginning of "sure." (Pronounced: /sər/)
  • "pris": This is where it gets tricky. It’s a slightly reduced vowel sound. The “i” is almost silent. Picture holding your mouth slightly as if you’re about to say “kiss,” but removing the sound. (Pronounced: /prɪs/) – Emphasis on the 'r' sound
  • "ingly": This is pronounced like “lingering,” with a "g" sound at the end. (Pronounced: /ɪŋgli/)

3. Combined:

Putting it all together, you get: ˈsɜːr prɪsɪŋli (This is using the International Phonetic Alphabet - IPA - a system for representing sounds. Don't worry about learning it fully, it's just a helpful guide.)

4. A more conversational breakdown (easier for beginners):

"Sur-prise-ingly" – Say it with a slight pause between the syllables. Focus on keeping the "i" in "pris" soft and almost silent, and emphasizing the "g" at the end of "ingly."

Resources to Help:

Tips for Practice:

  • Listen repeatedly: The Forvo link is super helpful. Listen to it several times and try to mimic the sounds.
  • Record yourself: Record yourself saying it and compare it to the native speaker pronunciation.
  • Break it down: Practice each syllable separately before putting them together.

Would you like me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation slowly?
  • Focus on a specific part of the word (e.g., just the "pris" syllable)?

Usage and examples with the word surprisingly in English

Let's break down how to use "surprisingly" effectively in English. It's a versatile word that adds nuance to your sentences, indicating a contrast between what you expected and what actually happened.

1. Basic Usage: Expressing Unexpectedness

The most common use of "surprisingly" is to highlight that something happened or was revealed in a way you didn't anticipate.

  • Example: "He passed the exam surprisingly well. I thought he wasn't prepared." (You didn't expect him to do so well.)
  • Example: "The weather was surprisingly sunny after the forecast predicted rain." (The forecast was wrong; the sun appeared unexpectedly.)
  • Example: "I found a twenty-dollar bill in my pocket – surprisingly!" (You weren't expecting to find money.)

2. Placement within the Sentence

  • At the beginning (followed by a comma): This is very common and emphasizes the surprise.
    • "Surprisingly, the movie was a huge success."
  • In the middle of the sentence (often with "it"):
    • "The results were surprisingly good." (Here, "it" refers to the results.)
    • "He was surprisingly calm after the accident." ( “He” refers to the person)
  • At the end (often with "indeed"): This is less common but can add a bit of emphasis.
    • “The cake was delicious, surprisingly.”

3. Using “Surprisingly” with Adjectives and Adverbs

"Surprisingly" often modifies an adjective or adverb, amplifying the degree of surprise.

  • Surprisingly good: (Even better than expected)
  • Surprisingly quickly: (Faster than anticipated)
  • Surprisingly beautiful: (More beautiful than imagined)
  • Surprisingly easy: (Less challenging than thought)

4. Alternatives to “Surprisingly” (When you want a slightly different feel)

While “surprisingly” is great, here are some alternatives that might work better in certain contexts:

  • Unexpectedly: Similar meaning, often used in formal writing.
  • Amazingly: Emphasizes a strong feeling of surprise and delight.
  • To my surprise: More conversational, emphasizes your personal reaction.
  • Incredibly: Highlights the extent of the surprise.
  • Remarkably: Suggests something noteworthy and unexpected.

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Overuse: Don't use "surprisingly" in every sentence. It can become repetitive. Choose the moments where it genuinely adds to your expression.
  • Unnecessary Use: Sometimes, the surprise is clear from the context and you don't need the word.

Here's a table summarizing the usage:

Usage Example Explanation
Basic Surprise "Surprisingly, she won the lottery." Highlights an unexpected event.
Modifying Adjective "The performance was surprisingly good." Strengthens the description of 'good'.
With "it" "It was surprisingly expensive." Refers back to the price.
Starting Sentence "Surprisingly, he enjoyed the hike." Creates immediate emphasis on the surprise.

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of writing are you doing? (e.g., informal conversation, essay, report?)
  • Can you give me an example sentence you’re struggling with?

Synonyms for the word surprisingly

Practice with vocabulary surprisingly

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The project, initially predicted to fail, was completed with remarkable success, ______ exceeding all expectations.
  2. During the negotiation, the opposing team, known for its rigid stance, showed a ______ willingness to compromise on key terms.
  3. Despite the team's meticulous planning, the new software update performed quite ______, causing several system crashes on launch day.
  4. To ensure the integrity of the data, the research assistant checked every entry ______ before submitting the final report.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (There may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. After weeks of intense deliberation, the committee's final decision was ______ unanimous, defying earlier predictions of a split vote. a) frequently b) generally c) surprisingly d) routinely

  2. The startup's new product, launched with minimal fanfare, achieved ______ high sales figures in its first quarter, outperforming established competitors. a) significantly b) unexpectedly c) surprisingly d) gradually

  3. Despite facing severe budget constraints, the team managed to deliver a high-quality prototype, demonstrating ______ resourcefulness. a) surprisingly b) consistently c) typically d) arguably

  4. The CEO stressed that strong communication skills are ______ important for effective team collaboration in a remote work environment. a) eventually b) primarily c) frequently d) routinely

  5. After collecting all the market research data, the analysts were able to ______ conclude that consumer demand for eco-friendly products had increased substantially. a) consequently b) gradually c) accurately d) additionally

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. It was unexpected that the market share of the smaller company grew so much in just one quarter. (Rewrite using "surprisingly")

  2. The research findings challenged the established theories, which no one anticipated. (Rewrite using "surprisingly" or related word forms)

  3. Despite the extensive difficulties, the team managed to achieve their targets. (Rewrite without using "surprisingly", but with a suitable replacement word)

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. surprisingly
  2. surprisingly
  3. poorly
  4. carefully

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. c) surprisingly
  2. a) significantly, b) unexpectedly, c) surprisingly
  3. a) surprisingly
  4. b) primarily
  5. c) accurately

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Surprisingly, the market share of the smaller company grew so much in just one quarter.
  2. To everyone's surprise, the research findings challenged the established theories. (Also acceptable: The research findings surprisingly challenged the established theories.)
  3. Despite the extensive difficulties, the team remarkably achieved their targets.

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