Meaning of the word "much to one's surprise" in English

What does "much to one's surprise" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

much to one's surprise

US /mʌtʃ tuː wʌnz sərˈpraɪz/
UK /mʌtʃ tuː wʌnz səˈpraɪz/
"much to one's surprise" picture

Idiom

used to say that someone is very surprised by something

Example:
Much to my surprise, I actually passed the exam.
The plan worked, much to everyone's surprise.