amaze

[ uh-meyz ]

verb (used with object)

, a·mazed, a·maz·ing.

1. to overwhelm with surprise or sudden wonder; astonish greatly:

   It will never cease to amaze me how fast children grow.

   She was amazed that someone could be serious about something so incredibly absurd.

   Synonyms: flabbergast, stun, dumbfound, astound

2. Obsolete. to bewilder; perplex.

verb (used without object)

, a·mazed, a·maz·ing.

1. to cause amazement:

   The museum has a new art show that delights and amazes.

noun

1. Archaic. amazement.

amaze

/ əˈmeɪz /

verb

1. to fill with incredulity or surprise; astonish
2. an obsolete word for bewilder

noun

1. an archaic word for amazement

Word History and Origins

Origin of amaze¹

First recorded before 1000; from Middle English amasen, from Old English āmasian “to confuse, stun, astonish,” equivalent to a- ³, + unattested *masian “to confuse”; maze ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of amaze¹

Old English āmasian

Synonym Study

See surprise.

Example Sentences

Bunny, TikTok's beloved "talking" Sheepadoodle, never fails to amaze her millions of followers.

From Salon

“Shohei just never ceases to amaze,” Roberts told reporters afterward.

From Los Angeles Times

I’ve covered 10 Olympics, and never once has an individual event failed to inspire and amaze.

From Los Angeles Times

CK: There are people who inspire and amaze me.

From Los Angeles Times

In the animal hall of fame, Kabosu’s sudden rise from ordinary dog to global meme could only be described as “amaze.”

From New York Times

Related Words

• affect
• alarm
• astonish
• astound
• bewilder
• daze
• dumbfound
• flabbergast
• impress
• perplex
• shock
• stagger
• startle
• stun