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.
Her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, died unexpectedly at 28 in 2023.
From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026
The Total Eclipse of the Heart singer died "unexpectedly" on 8 July, aged 75, at a hospital in Portugal.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
“This follows the unexpectedly weak July payrolls report Friday, which had already reduced pressure on the Fed to tighten further in September,” they add.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Webb has detected unexpectedly massive objects in the early Universe, including sources sometimes described as "little red dots."
From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026
Then, unexpectedly, the antiaircraft guns fell eerily silent.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
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.
