bewilder
gb/bɪwˈɪldɚ/ us/bɪwˈɪldɚ/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
make someone confused
To confuse someone so they don’t understand.
Usage pattern:
bewilder [someone] (with [something]); be bewildered (by [something])
Common mistake:
Avoid using it for simple surprise; it usually means confusion about understanding or what to do.
Synonyms
confuse (more general and more common.)
|
baffle (suggests being unable to solve or explain.)
|
puzzle (often implies curious confusion.)
|
perplex (slightly more formal; emphasizes uncertainty.)
Antonyms
clarify (makes something easier to understand.)
|
explain (gives information that removes confusion.)
Collocations
bewilder someone
|bewildered by
|bewildered expression
|bewildered look
|bewildered reaction
|completely bewildered
|slightly bewildered
|bewildered customers
|bewildered students
|bewildering detail
Themes
communication
|emotions
|education
|daily_life
Examples
- The instructions were so vague that they bewildered everyone.
- Her sudden change of mood bewildered him.
- The range of options can bewilder first-time buyers.
Learner examples
- This question bewilders me.
- I was bewildered by the map.
Verb
literary
C1
action
2
cause someone to lose their way
To make someone lose their way.
Usage pattern:
bewilder [someone] (in [place])
Common mistake:
This sense is uncommon in everyday speech; in modern English, people usually say “get lost” or “lose your way.”
Synonyms
disorient (focuses on losing a sense of direction.)
|
lead astray (suggests being guided onto a wrong path.)
Antonyms
guide (helps someone find the right way.)
|
orient (helps someone understand directions or position.)
Collocations
bewildered in
|bewildered among
|bewildered streets
|bewildered paths
|bewildered in the city
|bewildered in the forest
Themes
travel
|places
|daily_life
Examples
- In the narrow streets, we were quickly bewildered and had to ask for help.
- The fog bewildered the hikers on the ridge.
Learner examples
- The fog bewildered us on the road.
Grammar
Dictionary form
bewilder
IPA
GB/bɪwˈɪldɚ/
US/bɪwˈɪldɚ/
Syllables & stress
be - wilder (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (wilder)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: bewilder
- 3rd Person Singular: bewilders
- Present Participle: bewildering
- Past: bewildered
Word family
Forms
bewilders
verb
bewildering
verb
bewildered
verb
Core family
bewilderment
noun B2
Advanced or less common
bewilderingly
adverb
Expressions
be bewildered by [something]
1/bˈi bɪwˈɪldɚd bˈaɪ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
feel confused because of something
To feel confused about something.
Examples
- I was bewildered by the new tax rules.
- She looked bewildered by his response.
- They were bewildered by how quickly the plan changed.
bewilder [someone] with [something]
1/bɪwˈɪldɚ sˈʌmwˌʌn wˈɪθ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
confuse someone using complex details
To confuse someone by giving them a lot of complex information.
Examples
- The salesperson bewildered us with technical jargon.
- Try not to bewilder new users with too many options at once.
- He bewildered the committee with a stream of statistics.