One word for "happily surprised"

Question

Is there one word for “happily surprised”?

possible duplicate of Is there a word meaning unexpected pleasure? — Oleksandr R., Jun 14 '15 at 21:16

score 16 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 02 '12 at 19:27

16

Consider thrilled (suddenly excited, given great pleasure), elated (made happy and excited; delighted; pleased), overjoyed (given great joy, delight or pleasure).

answered Aug 02 '12 at 19:27

James Waldby - jwpat7

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I wonder whether these properly convey the element of surprise that OP intends. I understand that thrill does cover sudden excitement but when I use the phrase happily surprised I intend to say that I was not expecting to be happy about something. I was happily surprised to find that my team made the delivery on time. I agree that your suggestions drop right in to my example sentence, but it loses the element of surprise, and so, I think, changes the meaning slightly. – Jim Aug 02 '12 at 20:13
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I agree, but in my shock, dismay, hurt and amazement at finding amazed already accepted as the answer, collapsed and was unable to spell out any finer points like that. – James Waldby - jwpat7 Aug 02 '12 at 20:15

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 02 '12 at 19:20

4

Although often used (and sometimes abused), amazed fulfils the need quite well. Its literal meaning is 'astonishment, wonder.'

answered Aug 02 '12 at 19:20

Tony Balmforth

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I'm amazed how quickly this answer was accepted! Definitely not a happy surprise, either. – James Waldby - jwpat7 Aug 02 '12 at 19:28
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@jwpat7 I'm unhappily surprised at your comments, amazed even (in the abused sense). Hope I can please more on another occasion! – Tony Balmforth Aug 02 '12 at 20:34
Ok. "Unaccepted" for now. Let's see what the other answers are. – CodeBlue Aug 02 '12 at 21:43

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 02 '12 at 18:54

3

I'd go with something like wonderment:

2: astonishment, surprise

answered Aug 02 '12 at 18:54

cornbread ninja 麵包忍者

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score 3 · Answer 4 · edited Aug 02 '12 at 23:06

3

Ken Dodd has the catchphrase “How tickled I am,” but has never been accused of using a formal register.

edited Aug 02 '12 at 23:06

MetaEd

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answered Aug 02 '12 at 23:01

Edwin Ashworth

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bib · Answer 5 · 2015-06-14T21:09:38.437

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I would suggest gobsmacked.

Utterly astonished; astounded

Oxford Dictionaries Online

It enjoys more use in the U.K. than in the U.S., but may suit.

edited Jun 14 '15 at 21:09

answered Aug 02 '12 at 21:12

bib

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Being in the U.S., I'm largely unfamiliar with gobsmacked. After a bit of preliminary research, it seems like the word can be used to describe happy surpise, but it can also be used to describe being astonished after being blindsided by some unwelcome news. Is that true? – J.R. Aug 02 '12 at 21:54
U.S. based, I will look to our British colleagues to comment. – bib Aug 02 '12 at 22:32
In the US I've seen it a lot in videos and books, always with a sense like flabbergasted. The meaning shown in wiktionary is "To astonish". From etymonline, gobsmack is "U.K. slang, from gob “mouth” + p.p. of smack", before 1990, so essentially "a smack (sharp blow; a slap) in the mouth". – James Waldby - jwpat7 Aug 03 '12 at 04:56
The general UK view of 'gobsmacked' is that it is an unattractive word to be avoided, the language of fake tans and minimum vocabulary. – Tony Balmforth Aug 03 '12 at 08:06

score -1 · Answer 6 · edited Feb 13 '14 at 12:31

-1

Awestruck or amazed — the closest to what you want.

edited Feb 13 '14 at 12:31

RegDwigнt

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answered Feb 13 '14 at 08:46

Venkatesh Iyer

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One word for "happily surprised"

6 Answers6

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