Amaze
/əˈmeɪz/
verbB1
Definition
Amaze means to make someone feel great surprise or wonder. It happens when something is so good, strange, or unexpected that it makes a person stop and feel excited or shocked. This feeling is stronger than just a small surprise.
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See It in Action
To cause someone to feel great surprise or wonder
- •The magician amazed the audience with his tricks.
- •Her singing ability amazed everyone at the concert.
- •The view from the mountain top amazed the hikers.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "amaze" like "surprise" (A1 word), but much stronger and more exciting—like a big, happy shock
- ✓Picture watching fireworks that suddenly light up the whole sky in bright colors and shapes
- ✓It's the feeling when you see a magic trick that you cannot explain, and it makes you say "Wow!"
- ✓Sounds like "a-MAZE" → imagine being lost in a maze and suddenly finding a beautiful garden that amazes you
- ✓Think of stories where characters see something incredible, like a giant castle or a flying dragon, and they feel amazed
- ✓NOT like "surprise" (can be small or short), "amaze" is bigger and lasts longer in your mind
- ✓NOT like "confuse" (makes you unsure), "amaze" makes you feel wonder and happiness, not confusion
Try Other Words
- •Astonish: to cause great surprise (Use when the surprise is very strong and sometimes hard to believe)
- •Impress: to make someone admire or respect (Use when focus is on respect or admiration, not just surprise)
- •Stun: to shock someone very much (Use when surprise is so strong it makes someone stop or feel unable to react)
Unboxing
- •Prefix/root/suffix: a- (to, towards) + maze (like a confusing or surprising place)
- •Etymology: From Old English "amasian," meaning to confuse or bewilder; later changed to mean surprise in a good way
- •Historical development: Originally meant to confuse or puzzle, but over time it shifted to mean causing wonder or great surprise
- •Modern usage: Used mostly to describe making someone feel very impressed or full of wonder about something unexpected or wonderful
Reflect & Connect
•What kinds of things or events usually amaze you in your daily life?
•How can you use the word "amaze" to describe feelings about learning something new or seeing a new place?
Fill in the blanks
1.The fireworks show amazed the crowd because it was ___ and full of bright colors.
2.She was amazed ___ how quickly her friend learned to play the piano.
3.Unlike a small surprise, to amaze someone you need to do something ___ or very special.
4.When the magician performed the trick, he amazed everyone and left them ___.
5.People often say "I am amazed ___" when they see something very unusual or beautiful.
6.To amaze someone, you usually need to do something that is not ___ or normal.
7.The amazing painting amazed visitors, and many ___ to take pictures with it.