unexpected

[uhn-ik-spek-tid]

adjective

1. not expected; unforeseen; surprising.

   an unexpected pleasure;

   an unexpected development.

unexpected

/ ˌʌnɪkˈspɛktɪd /

adjective

1. surprising or unforeseen

Other Word Forms

• unexpectedly adverb
• unexpectedness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unexpected¹

First recorded in 1580–90; un- ¹ + expect + -ed ²

Synonym Study

See sudden.

Example Sentences

"I feel very grateful. It is totally unexpected. I've been doing this stuff for a very long time, talking about sustainability not just in sport but in our everyday life," Bellerin says.

From BBC

And the Dodgers will go into it with, given the way Saturday started, an unexpected 1-0 series lead.

From Los Angeles Times

In fact, every couple of releases the group takes a drastic shift into unexpected territory.

From Los Angeles Times

These may seem unexpected responses to a film that, right off the bat, showcases brutal, bloody mixed martial arts fighting.

From Los Angeles Times

The loss of the erotic drive, which made so much of my life exciting and unexpected, can leave me feeling a bit adrift.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abrupt 
• accidental 
• amazing 
• astonishing 
• fortuitous 
• startling 
• stunning 
• sudden 
• swift 
• unanticipated 
• unforeseen 
• unpredictable 
• wonderful