astound
uh-STOWND
/əˈstaʊnd/
To shock or greatly surprise someone to the point where they can barely process it.
Stronger than 'astonish'; implies complete disbelief or overwhelming scale.
The story behind the word. A variant of 'astony' (which became 'astonish'), altered in Middle English under the influence of verbs ending in '-ound' like 'bound' or 'confound'. It maintains the core metaphor of thunderstruck shock.
Word relationships
- flabbergast: 'Flabbergast' is informal and expressive; 'astound' is formal and dignified.
- reassure: To settle expectations calmly rather than disrupt them.
Commonly confused with
- astonish: 'Astound' represents a higher degree of cognitive overwhelm than 'astonish'.
Word family
- astounding (adjective): Surprisingly impressive or notable.
- astoundingness (noun): The quality of being astounding.
Collocations
- astound scientists
- never fail to astound
- astound the public
Idioms & expressions
- astound beyond measure
Example sentences
- "The colossal dimensions of the newly discovered galaxy astound astronomers worldwide." Astronomy
Memory hook
An ASTOUNDING discovery leaves your mind ASTRAY and GROUNDED. Thunderstruck into silence.
When not to use
Avoid using for minor or everyday surprises like receiving an unannounced card.
Fun facts
- The '-d' at the end of astound was added by late Middle English speakers who liked how rhyming verbs like 'confound' felt more forceful.
Explore more words
breathtaking, nonplussed, confounded, bewildered, consternation, bizarre
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