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.
In it was a clip that would unexpectedly make things even worse at USC.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
She told the audience that after posting a simple video of herself breaking down a fish, the clip unexpectedly took off on Instagram.
From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026
Data released Thursday shows jobless claims unexpectedly fell last week, while the manufacturing activity in the central U.S. grew at its fastest pace all summer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
That work is becoming increasingly important as the James Webb Space Telescope, which launched in 2021, continues to uncover unexpectedly complex galaxies from the universe's early history.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 24, 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.
