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Synonyms

by surprise

Idioms  

  1. see take by surprise.

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.

Maybe the furnace needs replacing, a medical bill arrives out of the blue, or an education expense catches you by surprise.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026

The collapse of Florida’s citrus industry, he told me, took everyone by surprise.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

Panella got wind of “The End of Oak Street” from a post highlighting Hathaway’s slate of upcoming films, only to be caught by surprise.

From Salon • Apr. 12, 2026

Pakistan's role as intermediary in this conflict took many by surprise.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Taken by surprise, the bats broke out of their formation and zoomed down, only to find themselves with no one to capture.

From "Gregor the Overlander" by Suzanne Collins

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.