surprising

What it means

1. Causing surprise.

   A surprising number of people attended the rally.

   2 more examples

   With this the second of three games in seven days for Stoke, it was hardly surprising to see nine changes from the side that started against Newcastle in the Premier League on Monday.

   2011 November 3, David Ornstein, “Macc Tel-Aviv 1-2 Stoke”, in BBC Sport

   Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and endowments are searching for new sources of return.

   2013 July 6, “The rise of smart beta”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8843, page 68

   Synonyms: astonishing, unexpected, astounding, awesome, random, shocking, spontaneous, sudden

In a sentence

A surprising number of people attended the rally.

Where it comes from

From surprise + -ing.