What does astounding mean?
Astounding is an adjective describing something so surprising, extraordinary, or impressive that it overwhelms normal expectations or belief. It ranks among the strongest terms of amazement in English, more intense than surprising or astonishing, and it typically conveys a sense of awe or wonder — whether applied to dazzling achievements, vast quantities, or deeply unexpected events. The word derives ultimately from the Latin tonare, 'to thunder,' via Old French, so its figurative force echoes the image of a thunderclap leaving a person stunned. In modern usage it appears frequently in journalism, science writing, and everyday praise, often in phrases such as 'astounding success' or 'an astounding amount.' Its related forms include the verb astound, the past participle astounded, and the adverb astoundingly. Because it expresses intensity rather than judgment, astounding works equally well for wonderful and shocking things, making it a versatile and powerful word for conveying sheer disbelief or admiration.
adjectiveExtremely surprising or shocking; overwhelmingly impressive in a way that is difficult to believe.
- Extremely surprising or shocking in a way that overwhelms belief or expectation.
- So remarkable or impressive as to inspire wonder or awe.
"The telescope revealed an astounding number of previously unknown galaxies."
"The magician performed feats of astounding skill that defied explanation."
"She recovered from the accident at an astounding pace, astonishing her doctors."
Astounding traces back to the Latin tonare — 'to thunder' — so to astound someone is, quite literally, to thunder at them.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of astounding
Astounding comes from the verb astound, which emerged in English in the late Middle Ages from the Old French estoner, itself derived from the Latin ex- ('out of') plus tonare ('to thunder'). The same Latin root gave rise to related English words including astonish and, through later development, stun, while thunder is a native Germanic cognate of tonare. Originally implying a shock like a thunderbolt striking someone senseless, the word gradually softened into its modern sense of overwhelming amazement by the seventeenth century.
Word family
Usage notes
Astounding sits near the top of the scale of surprise words, stronger than surprising or astonishing and comparable to staggering or mind-boggling. It is standard in both formal and informal registers and carries a strongly positive or awed connotation, though it can describe shocking negative events as well.
Don't confuse with
Astonishing means very surprising, while astounding implies an even stronger degree of shock or amazement that can leave one momentarily speechless.