Basic Details
Word: Astonishing
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: So surprising that it is hard to believe.
Synonyms: amazing, astounding, staggering, incredible
Antonyms: ordinary, unremarkable, predictable
How to Spell Astonishing
Syllables: as - ton - ish - ing
Tricky part: The -ing goes straight onto astonish with no e and no extra letter. The middle has just one n.
Watch out for: astonnishing, astonising, astonnising
Memory tip: Start from astonish, which you may already spell: as + ton + ish. Then add ing with no change at all, just as finish becomes finishing.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The view from the top of the Qutub Minar is astonishing.
Example 2: She has an astonishing memory for phone numbers.
Example 3: It is astonishing how quickly the puppy learnt to open the gate.
Fun Fact
In 1980 the Indian mathematician Shakuntala Devi multiplied two 13-digit numbers in her head in 28 seconds, a feat recorded by Guinness.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word astonishing as used in the sentence:
The magician's astonishing escape from the locked trunk left everyone speechless.
a) stunning
b) amazing
c) staggering
d) ordinary
Show answer
d) ordinary. Amazing, stunning and staggering all mean very surprising; ordinary is the opposite.
Word Cookie
Choose the letters that complete the word:
a_toni_hing
a) s, s
b) z, s
c) s, c
d) c, s
Show answer
a) s, s. The word begins as- and the end is the sh of astonish.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the meaning of the only correctly spelt word:
1. magnificient 2. remarkible 3. astonishing 4. spectaculer
a) unusual enough to be noticed
b) very impressive to look at
c) so surprising it is hard to believe
d) very grand and beautiful
Show answer
c) so surprising it is hard to believe. Remarkible should end -able, like remark + able; magnificient and spectaculer are also misspelt, which leaves astonishing.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. An astonishing number of people came. This means ____.
a) nobody at all turned up
b) only the family members came
c) exactly the expected number came
d) far more came than anyone expected
Show answer
d) far more came than anyone expected
2. Which sentence uses astonishing correctly?
a) The speed of the cheetah was astonishing.
b) We felt astonishing at the news.
c) He seemed astonishing to hear it.
d) I was astonishing by the result.
Show answer
a) The speed of the cheetah was astonishing.
