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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bowl over
In the end, Grassi was bowled over by Patinkin's dedication to the story and his performance.
—
Madeleine Janz, People.com, 7 Jan. 2025
The lone bright spots were when Pacioretty bowled over Mavrik Bourque eight minutes in and when Tavares won a key puck battle that led to the empty-netter.
—Kevin Papetti, The Athletic, 19 Dec. 2024
To assemble the bowls, place ¼ cup cooked quinoa in each bowl, then divide roasted vegetables, chickpeas and edamame evenly into each bowl over the quinoa.
—Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 26 Oct. 2024
The strike also bowled over around 100 head of cattle that had bunched around the trailer loaded with hay, said Crocket.
—Jesse Bedayn, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for bowl over 
Madeleine Janz, People.com, 7 Jan. 2025
The lone bright spots were when Pacioretty bowled over Mavrik Bourque eight minutes in and when Tavares won a key puck battle that led to the empty-netter.
—Kevin Papetti, The Athletic, 19 Dec. 2024
To assemble the bowls, place ¼ cup cooked quinoa in each bowl, then divide roasted vegetables, chickpeas and edamame evenly into each bowl over the quinoa.
—Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 26 Oct. 2024
The strike also bowled over around 100 head of cattle that had bunched around the trailer loaded with hay, said Crocket.
—Jesse Bedayn, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for bowl over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowl over
Verb
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Here are the 14 most shocking snubs and surprises from the 2025 Academy Awards shortlist.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
23 Jan. 2025
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The upside earnings surprised many, and consequently, the stock popped.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Costco continues to amaze both with price and with entertainment and all my Costco’s are a blast to shop at.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
23 Jan. 2025
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Instead, the boy was creating short films using action figures, adding voice-over narration, and displaying a level of creativity that amazed his mother.—
J.M. Banks,
Kansas City Star,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Director Mohammad Rasoulof tracks social and moral collapse with the kind of unnerving calm and visual precision that made the Iranian New Wave so striking when Abbas Kiarostami’s Through the Olive Trees and Mohsen Makhmalbaf’s A Moment of Innocence first stunned the film world in the 1990s.—
Armond White,
National Review,
22 Jan. 2025
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Legal Challenges Image Legal scholars and immigration advocates said on Tuesday that they were stunned by the breadth of the order.—
Michael D. Shear,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The revelation shocks everyone on the trip, leading Praveena to pack her bags and Juliana to break up with Yuri.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
18 Jan. 2025
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It’s been 150 years since the Impressionists shocked Paris with their rebellious Société Anonyme show.—
Josephine Sedgwick,
New York Times,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The 72-year-old was startled awake about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday by his landlord banging on his door.—
Ben Poston,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2025
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The warning prompted a flood of social media posts from residents startled awake by emergency alerts.—
Stephan Pechdimaldji,
Newsweek,
15 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Proof of that legacy comes with D’Angelo, Chaka Khan, George Clinton, Terry Lewis and Living Colour’s Vernon Reid attesting to the Family Stone’s massive popularity at the time over footage of the group rocking the stage.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
24 Jan. 2025
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Other performers were able to camp it up, in costume to cover ‘90s hits by Cher or the Spice Girls, but rocking it out with Carlile and the Hanseroth Twins headbanging behind her, Amanfu sounded as serious as a heart attack.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Many owners have been astonished to see just how calm and well-behaved their pup is when there's no one else at home.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
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All of us were astonished by the scene outside the window: Flames from the not-too-distant mountains had climbed down almost to the valley floor.—
Francine Kiefer,
The Christian Science Monitor,
9 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near bowl over
Cite this Entry
“Bowl over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowl%20over. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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