amazement

noun

amaze·​ment ə-ˈmāz-mənt 

1

: a feeling of astonishment : the quality or state of being amazed

was filled with amazement by what he saw

She stared at him in amazement.

2

: something that causes astonishment : something that is amazing

… the amazements that are turning up in physics each year …

—Lewis Thomas

3

obsolete : consternation, bewilderment

Synonyms

• admiration
• astonishment
• awe
• wonder
• wonderment

Examples of amazement in a Sentence

The crowd watched in amazement as the magician performed his tricks.

Much to the amazement of her family, she left school to pursue her acting career.

Recent Examples on the Web

But Levin watched in amazement as the eyes and mouths found their way to the right arrangement while the tadpoles morphed into frogs. —Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2024

To no one’s amazement, Brian is scared of the key card. —Lisa Kwon, Vulture, 17 Jan. 2024

Three months in, the amazement has yet to dissipate. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2024

There is quite a degree of amazement the way he was treated. —Foreign Affairs, 26 Mar. 2010

Word History

Etymology

amaze entry 1 + -ment

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing amazement

• to one's amazement

Kids Definition

amazement

noun

amaze·​ment ə-ˈmāz-mənt 

: great surprise or astonishment