unexpectedly
Americanadverb
Etymology
Origin of unexpectedly
Explanation
When something happens unexpectedly, it takes you by surprise because you weren’t prepared for it, like a surprise party or a sudden rainstorm on a sunny day. The adverb unexpectedly comes from the word unexpected, which means "something that wasn’t anticipated or planned." When something happens unexpectedly, it catches you off guard and can lead to a range of emotions, like surprise, excitement, or even confusion. For example, you might unexpectedly bump into an old friend at the grocery store or receive an unexpected gift in the mail, creating a memorable moment.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I raised my children there as a single mother, and it was the last home my son lived in before he passed away unexpectedly.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 25, 2026
The team also detected unexpectedly high concentrations of copper in certain regions of the battery's cathode.
From Science Daily • Jun. 21, 2026
Research into augmentative and alternative communication systems has demonstrated that some dogs can learn to use soundboards that “speak” for the canines and combine concepts in unexpectedly sophisticated ways.
From Slate • Jun. 20, 2026
Meanwhile, Brent crude oil slid after President Trump unexpectedly signed a memorandum of understanding in Versailles to end the war with Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 18, 2026
What would he do, meeting her unexpectedly in this dimness?
From "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
