bowl over

verb

Definition of bowl overnext
as in to surprise
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected she was bowled over to learn that she had a long-lost sister

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bowl over In a bowl over simmering water (aka double boiler), melt butter, chocolate chips, and unsweetened chocolate. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 July 2026 The mixture is cooked in a double boiler (or in a stainless-steel bowl over a pot of simmering water) until thick, creating a custard-like consistency. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 15 July 2026 Place a medium heatproof bowl over the saucepan, making sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. — Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 10 July 2026 So far, the league appears to be taking a slower path, rather than trying to bowl over players at the outset. — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for bowl over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowl over
  1. surprise
  2. amaze
  3. stun
  4. shock
  5. startle
  6. astonish
Verb
  • Carleton was surprised by how many older adults were thrilled to join a trial that would guide not only their care, but the treatment of others going forward.
    — Allessandra DiCorato, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
  • After years of buying and selling horses, Casse knows the business will keep surprising him.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of surprise
Verb
  • What amazes me is there seems to be a wide swath of Michiganders who don’t seem to mind being lied to.
    — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2026
  • And especially with the stock market—I’m amazed the stock market still hasn’t really taken the hit.
    — Victoria Feng, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of amaze
Verb
  • But after circling a few times, the shark spat out the bait, leaving fishermen on the pier stunned.
    — Jasmine Mendez Follow, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • At a small celebration dinner in San Francisco after the deal closed, Basu Trivedi was stunned by their choice of lodging.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of stun
Verb
  • No matter how one views the death penalty, the grisly details of this tragic incident should — to use a phrase coined by Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter — shock the conscience.
    — Dr. Jacob Appel, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The Israeli film, set in 1987, centers on a 12-year-old boy, Boaz, played by Yair Mazor, who, while preparing for his bar mitzvah, is shocked to witness his father (Assi Cohen) having sex in a swimming pool locker room.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of shock
Verb
  • However, startled by the activation of the security system, the suspect fled the scene without stealing any loot.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • To build a stealthy ocean-monitoring platform for the Office of Naval Research, Professor Shepherd needed a propulsion system that would not startle marine life.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of startle
Verb
  • The results astonished Christopher Galarza, a Pittsburgh chef and electric cooking advocate, who helped design the study.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Switzerland’s iconic glaciers lost an enormous amount of ice in 2026, a new report shows, signaling an ongoing rapid meltdown driven by climate change that has astonished even scientists studying it.
    — Erin Douglas, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of astonish

Browse Nearby Words

bowling over
bowl over
bowls
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Cite this Entry

“Bowl over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowl%20over. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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