If an event or someone's behaviour is unexpected, it surprises you because you did not think that it was likely to happen.
His death was totally unexpected.
He made a brief, unexpected appearance at the office.
Help may also come from some unexpected places.
'Hello,' he said. 'This is an unexpected pleasure.'
Synonyms: unforeseen, surprising, unanticipated, chance More Synonyms of unexpected
unexpectedlyadverb [ADVERB adjective, ADVERB with verb]
Moss had clamped an unexpectedly strong grip on his arm.
The men came out unexpectedly, catching the soldiers off-guard.
Synonyms: surprisingly, remarkably, unusually, incredibly More Synonyms of unexpected
unexpected in British English
(ˌʌnɪkˈspɛktɪd)
adjective
surprising or unforeseen
Derived forms
unexpectedly (ˌunexˈpectedly)
adverb
unexpectedness (ˌunexˈpectedness)
noun
unexpected in American English
(ˌʌnɛkˈspɛktɪd)
adjective
not expected; unforeseen
Derived forms
unexpectedly (ˌunexˈpectedly)
adverb
unexpectedness (ˌunexˈpectedness)
noun
Examples of 'unexpected' in a sentence
unexpected
But unexpected circumstances can also provide interesting opportunities.
The Sun (2017)
New projects at work may be unexpected, but they can still benefit you.
The Sun (2016)
New projects at work may be unexpected, but benefit you.
The Sun (2016)
He was introduced to wheelchair basketball, which again provided an unexpected pleasure.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Yesterday he made an unexpected appearance in the Commons chamber.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He said:'This is an unexpected situation but also an exciting one.
The Sun (2016)
The very worst kind of end for any mortal man was an unexpected death.
Carpenter, Anne & Johnson, Geoffrey Why am I Afraid to Grieve (1994)
Your love life may take an unexpected turn when you discover who has deep feelings for you.
The Sun (2011)
The episode is worth watching just to see who else makes an unexpected appearance at the party.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Unexpected setbacks and delays could cause your temper to erupt and your blood pressure to rise.
The Sun (2015)
You also have an unexpected role to play with a local team or group of entertainers.
The Sun (2013)
Any past anger seems to have been lost in the unexpected pleasure of being united again.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What you discover today may be unexpected but it should make you optimistic.
The Sun (2012)
His appearance is unexpected for a fashion designer.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But it is a haphazard process and the transfer of funds can face unexpected delays.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Unexpected help also came from the literary world.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
That means unexpected setbacks may be more dangerous than for a diversified business.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This was gracious of him and also provoked an unexpected conspiratorial mirth between the interviewer and interviewee.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Some very unexpected luck may help home plans.
The Sun (2016)
The film also takes some unexpected turns.
Christianity Today (2000)
Some of the answers may come from unexpected places.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Unexpected deaths were extremely rare.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
And what an unexpected pleasure.
The Sun (2016)
Her death was totally unexpected.
The Sun (2015)
Public health chiefs have blamed flu for the unexpected death of thousands of elderly people over the past year, prompting claims of a whitewash.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The unexpected pleasure of Hairspray is that it doesn't beg to differ.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The trust claimed the figures had been misinterpreted and most of the unexpected deaths were'not clinically avoidable'.
The Sun (2015)
Pilots say they're under increasing pressure from employers to save money by flying with minimum fuel, leaving little margin for unexpected delays.
The Sun (2013)
An unexpected Russian objection delayed the vote, although western diplomats emphasised that they were still expecting the resolution to be passed last night or today.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Quotations
Expect the unexpected
In other languages
unexpected
British English: unexpected /ˌʌnɪkˈspɛktɪd/ ADJECTIVE
Something that is unexpected surprises you because you did not think it was likely to happen.
His return was totally unexpected.
American English: unexpected
Arabic: غَيْرُ مُتَوَقَّع
Brazilian Portuguese: inesperado
Chinese: 始料未及的
Croatian: neočekivan
Czech: nečekaný
Danish: uventet
Dutch: onverwacht
European Spanish: inesperado
Finnish: odottamaton
French: inattendu
German: unerwartet
Greek: απροσδόκητος
Italian: imprevisto
Japanese: 予期しない
Korean: 뜻밖의
Norwegian: uventet
Polish: niespodziewany
European Portuguese: inesperado
Romanian: neașteptat
Russian: неожиданный
Latin American Spanish: inesperado
Swedish: oväntad
Thai: ไม่คาดคิดมาก่อน
Turkish: umulmadık
Ukrainian: несподіваний
Vietnamese: bất ngờ
All related terms of 'unexpected'
unexpected arrival
When a person or vehicle arrives at a place, you can refer to their arrival .
unexpected bonus
A bonus is something good that you get in addition to something else, and which you would not usually expect.
unexpected death
Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
unexpected guest
A guest is someone who is visiting you or is at an event because you have invited them.
unexpected source
The source of something is the person, place, or thing which you get it from.
unexpected direction
A direction is the general way in which something develops or progresses .
unexpected expenses
Expense is the money that something costs you or that you need to spend in order to do something.
unexpected opportunity
An opportunity is a situation in which it is possible for you to do something that you want to do.
Chinese translation of 'unexpected'
unexpected
(ʌnɪksˈpɛktɪd)
adj
意外的 (yìwài de)
(adjective)
Definition
surprising or unforeseen
His death was totally unexpected.
Synonyms
unforeseen
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the show has been cancelled.
surprising
A surprising number of customers order the same sandwich each day.
unanticipated
chance
He describes their chance meeting as intense.
sudden
It was all very sudden.
astonishing
startling
His hair was dyed a startling black.
unpredictable
accidental
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
abrupt
His abrupt departure is bound to raise questions.
out of the blue
unannounced
an unannounced visit
fortuitous
a fortuitous quirk of fate
unheralded
The complete reversal of this policy was unheralded.
unlooked-for
This unlooked-for opportunity couldn't be lost.
not bargained for
Opposites
expected
,
anticipated
,
foreseen
,
planned
,
normal
,
awaited
,
predictable
proverb
Expect the unexpected
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abrupt
Definition
sudden or unexpected
His abrupt departure is bound to raise questions.
Synonyms
sudden,
unexpected,
hurried,
rapid,
surprising,
quick,
swift,
rash,
precipitate,
hasty,
impulsive,
headlong,
unforeseen,
unanticipated
in the sense of accidental
Definition
occurring by chance or unintentionally
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
Synonyms
unintentional,
unexpected,
incidental,
unforeseen,
unintended,
unplanned,
unpremeditated
in the sense of chance
He describes their chance meeting as intense.
Synonyms
accidental,
random,
casual,
incidental,
unforeseen,
unintentional,
fortuitous,
inadvertent,
serendipitous,
unforeseeable,
unlooked-for
Synonyms of 'unexpected'
unexpected
Explore 'unexpected' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of fortuitous
Definition
happening by chance, esp. by a lucky chance
a fortuitous quirk of fate
Synonyms
chance,
lucky,
random,
casual,
contingent,
accidental,
arbitrary,
incidental,
unforeseen,
unplanned
in the sense of startling
His hair was dyed a startling black.
Synonyms
surprising,
shocking,
alarming,
extraordinary,
sudden,
unexpected,
staggering,
unforeseen,
jaw-dropping
in the sense of sudden
Definition
occurring or performed quickly and without warning
It was all very sudden.
Synonyms
quick,
rapid,
unexpected,
swift,
hurried,
abrupt,
hasty,
impulsive,
unforeseen
in the sense of surprising
A surprising number of customers order the same sandwich each day.
Synonyms
amazing,
remarkable,
incredible (informal),
astonishing,
wonderful,
unusual,
extraordinary,
unexpected,
staggering,
marvellous,
startling,
astounding,
jaw-dropping,
eye-popping (informal),
unlooked-for
in the sense of unannounced
an unannounced visit
Synonyms
unexpected,
unforeseen,
unheralded
in the sense of unheralded
Definition
not announced beforehand
The complete reversal of this policy was unheralded.