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
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Recent Examples of bowl over
Everman’s balanced attack too much for Wyatt Everman got 15 points from Carsyn Smith and 12 more from Makhiya Dangerfield as the Bulldogs bowled over Fort Worth Wyatt 69-14 in a Class 5A Division II bi-district tilt on Monday.
—
Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Feb. 2026
Start by heating the chocolate and butter in a bowl over very low heat, stirring to combine.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
Place bowl over hot water in saucepan, making sure water does not touch bottom of bowl.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
Lewis was bowled over by Lee’s research, which included the revelation that an early version of Goldman Sachs was a venture investor in Clarence Birdseye’s flash-freezing method; Birdseye studied as an ornithologist (as well as a taxidermist, fur trader, hunter, and fish lobbyist).
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bowl over
Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Feb. 2026
Start by heating the chocolate and butter in a bowl over very low heat, stirring to combine.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
Place bowl over hot water in saucepan, making sure water does not touch bottom of bowl.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
Lewis was bowled over by Lee’s research, which included the revelation that an early version of Goldman Sachs was a venture investor in Clarence Birdseye’s flash-freezing method; Birdseye studied as an ornithologist (as well as a taxidermist, fur trader, hunter, and fish lobbyist).
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bowl over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowl over
Verb
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Safford said he was surprised by the turnout.—
CBS News Atlanta Staff,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
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News in the media also might surprise you.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This natural sculpting resulted in stunning sandstone formations that amaze visitors who flock to the site, which is free and open to the public year-round.—
Erika Ebsworth-Goold,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Mar. 2026
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Melissa's rapid intensification and high winds and atypical hurricane behavior amazed even some of the more experienced scientists who study tropical cyclones, thanks in part to its journey over some exceptionally warm waters in the Caribbean.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Ferreria, who broke out as Kat Hernandez on the HBO teen drama, stunned in a floor-length royal blue gown.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
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Marcus Smart leaned toward the microphone atop the podium as his press conference concluded — asking a question of the media after the Lakers stunned the Denver Nuggets 127-125 in overtime to win their fifth consecutive game Saturday night.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Tarrant County Democrats shocked the country by electing union leader and aircraft mechanic Taylor Rehmet to the state Senate, Talarico said.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Mar. 2026
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And the deadly Typhoon Haiyan hitting the Philippines in 2013 shocked the world.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But on a Sunday morning in July 1595, the groan of the heavy wooden door startled him from his gesticulations.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Mar. 2026
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That caused the sonic booms and explosive noises that startled so many people.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Kokuho was her very first film, and the prospect of attending the Academy Awards astonished and baffled her.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Mar. 2026
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The others come from flat-out surprises that will floor and astonish you.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bowl over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowl%20over. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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