Amaze: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes

Meaning 1：astonish greatly (amaze)

amaze 🔊

/əˈmeɪz/

vt.

To make someone feel very surprised, like they can't believe what they're seeing or hearing.

Amaze definition illustrated: person astonished by floating holographic smartphone display

astonish greatly 🔊

➕

/əˈstɒnɪʃ ˈɡreɪtli/

vt.

To cause someone to feel extreme surprise or wonder, often due to something unexpected or impressive.

📁 Category：Technological Inventions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'āmasian', meaning to confuse or stun.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'a maze' – being amazed is like being lost in a surprising maze.

📖 Example

The new smartphone's ability to translate languages in real time amazed everyone at the product launch. 🔊 At the product launch, everyone was greatly astonished by the new smartphone's real-time language translation feature.

🔗 Collocations

amaze someone – to cause someone to be very surprised

be amazed by – to feel great surprise because of something

amaze with – to impress or surprise someone by using something

🔄 Synonyms

astonish (vt.) – to surprise someone greatly

surprise (vt.) – to cause someone to feel mild or sudden wonder

astound (vt.) – to shock or amaze someone with something incredible

🚫 Antonyms

bore (vt.) – to cause someone to feel uninterested or weary

disappoint (vt.) – to fail to meet expectations, causing sadness

🌱 Derivatives

amazing (adj.) – causing great surprise or wonder; impressive

amazement (n.) – a feeling of great surprise or wonder

📖 Cultural Story

Originates from Old English 'āmasian' (to confuse). Evolved to mean causing great surprise, commonly used for technological innovations or spectacular events.