amaze

/əˈmeɪz/ (bre, ipa) · [əmˈez] /əˈmeɪz/ (ame, ipa) · [əmˈez] /ə-ˈmāz/ (ame, mw)

amaze — verb

  • amazepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • amazeshe / she / it
  • amazedpast simple
  • amazing-ing form

1. to make someone feel very great surprise or wonder, especially when something th

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

to make someone feel very great surprise or wonder, especially when something they see, hear, or learn is unexpected, impressive, or hard to believe

例句

The magician's final trick amazed the entire audience at the theatre.

amaze + direct object (person/group)

It still amazes me that Haruto can play complicated pieces of music by ear.

it amazes [person] that-clause

同義詞
  • astonish

    very close in meaning; suggests even stronger, more sudden surprise

  • astound

    even stronger than amaze, often suggests something hard to believe is true

  • stun

    implies shock that leaves someone briefly unable to react

  • dumbfound

    more informal; suggests speechless surprise

反義詞
  • bore

    to cause lack of interest rather than surprise

文法句型

amaze + [person]

be amazed + at/by [something]

be amazed + to-infinitive

be amazed + that-clause

用法筆記

Often used in the passive ('be amazed'). The subject of the active form is typically a thing, event, or quality that causes surprise, not a person. When a person is the subject, use 'amaze someone by/with something'.

常見錯誤

❌I amazed with his result.
✅I was amazed by his result.
💡'amaze' is transitive and needs an object; it is very common in the passive voice.
❌She amazed at the beautiful view.
✅She was amazed at the beautiful view.
💡'be amazed at' is the correct pattern, not 'amaze at'.

2. to confuse someone completely because what has happened or been said seems impos

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to confuse someone completely because what has happened or been said seems impossible to explain or understand

例句

The sudden change in the competition rules amazed every single participant.

amaze meaning 'confuse by being inexplicable'

Mira was amazed that her carefully prepared report was rejected with no reason given.

同義詞
  • bewilder

    the closest synonym; focuses on confusion rather than surprise

  • perplex

    suggests mild confusion that makes someone think hard

  • baffle

    stronger than perplex; suggests complete inability to understand

反義詞
  • enlighten

    to give understanding rather than cause confusion

文法句型

be amazed + at/by [something]

amaze + [person]

用法筆記

Distinguish from Sense 1 (CAUSE SURPRISE). In this sense, the surprise comes from the fact that something is puzzling or makes no sense, not from the thing being impressive or wonderful. This sense is less common in modern English and appears mostly in formal or literary contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The clever trick amazed the children' (when meaning they were happily surprised).
✅Use Sense 1 for positive surprise
💡this sense is for puzzlement, not delight.

amaze — noun