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.
Luna’s journey began unexpectedly on Sept. 10 at the Canyon Village base camp section of the park.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, one of two trusts heavily impacted, confirmed a year after the hack that one patient had also "died unexpectedly".
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
If other ancient clusters also contain unexpectedly concentrated dark matter and display unusually advanced development, scientists may need to revise some of their basic assumptions about how quickly large cosmic structures formed.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026
He passed away unexpectedly a few years ago.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
This was an innocuous question but, unexpectedly, Bunny winced.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
