unexpectedun‧ex‧pect‧ed /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪd◂/ ●●○ adjective 
The experiment produced some unexpected results. Her death was totally unexpected. Hague’s announcement was not entirely unexpected.—unexpectedly adverb: His father died unexpectedly.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Bobby's decision to leave the band was totally unexpected.
- Ella's angry outburst was so unexpected that Mike really didn't know what to say.
- He greeted me with unexpected warmth.
- Her decision to leave was completely unexpected.
- The new drug comes from an unexpected source -- potatoes.
- There have been unexpected delays on the freeway because of an accident.
- A counterfeit marriage to her cousin, Gareth, places Delphi Carteret in unexpected danger.
- And then something happens, something unexpected.
- Each of these ultra-familiar tunes came up sounding fresh and surprising, and the entire set consistently delighted us with the unexpected.
- The last, and perhaps most troubling possibility for the stock market, would be an unexpected economic dive into recession.
- The strategy for victory is always the unexpected strategy.
- These invisible tabs, if not removed, are responsible for text mysteriously jumping to an unexpected position.
- This project had an unexpected spin-off effect for Ward's market in that wealthy agriculturalists became private patrons.
- Without it I would not thrill to every unexpected occurrence, each seeming coincidence that has brought me closer to you.
Longman Language Activatorwhen something happens that you did not expect
something that is unexpected surprises you because you did not expect it: · There have been unexpected delays on the freeway because of an accident.completely/totally unexpected: · Bobby's decision to leave the band was totally unexpected.
: unforeseen circumstances/problems/changes etc situations, problems, changes etc that you did not expect or prepare for, and which usually cause you difficulty: · We had to cancel our visit to Egypt because of unforeseen problems.· Once you have started the training you will not be allowed to leave, unless unforeseen circumstances arise.
if something that happens is a surprise or comes as a surprise , you did not expect it to happen, and so you are surprised by it: · Winning the award was a total surprise.be a surprise/come as a surprise to: · Fazio's announcement came as a surprise to most political observers.
informal if something happens out of the blue , you did not expect it, and you are very surprised or shocked by it: · Out of the blue, he asked me to come with him to Europe.· One evening, Angela phoned me out of the blue and said she was in some kind of trouble.
informal one that you did not expect, so that you are very surprised: · Mary's the last person you'd expect to be stopped for drunk driving· It's such a quiet little village - it's the last place you'd expect something like this to happen.
to happen or do something when someone is not expecting it and not ready to deal with it: · I was caught unawares by the hug and the kiss he gave me.· Her rude comments really caught me off guard.
formal if something happens contrary to expectations , it is the opposite of what people expected to happen: · Contrary to expectations, the play was a big success.contrary to somebody's expectations: · Michael won the competition, contrary to everyone's expectations.
happening unexpectedly, because no one was told about it: · Investigators from the health department made unannounced visits to the hospital in March.arrive unannounced/show up unannounced: · My brother is famous for showing up at our houses unannounced, usually around dinner time.
if something happens that you did not expect in your wildest dreams , it is so good that you never thought that there was any possibility that it could happen: · In our wildest dreams, we could not have expected how successful this program would be.never in somebody's wildest dreams: · Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined she would win the gold medal.
if you get more than you had bargained for , you have more problems or difficulties while doing something than you had expected or prepared for: · Their summer vacation turned out to be much more expensive than they'd bargained for.· We got more than we bargained for when we bought the house. There's so much work to be done!
making you feel surprised · A surprising number of teenagers leave school without being able to read and write.· Some of the conclusions in the report were quite surprising.it is surprising (that) · Wasn't it surprising that so few people came to the party?it is surprising to see/find/ learn etc · In such a small town it was surprising to find so many really good restaurants.it is surprising how/what etc · Liddy really didn't want to change school, but it was surprising how quickly she got used to the new one.
very surprising - use this especially about something very good or impressive: · Hong Kong is an absolutely amazing city.· What an amazing achievement!it is amazing how/what: · It's amazing how much work you can do in a day if you put your mind to it.it is amazing that: · After 2000 years, it's amazing that the inscriptions are still clear enough to read.it's amazing to see/find/think etc: · Isn't it amazing to think that men have actually stood on the moon?
something that is astonishing or astounding is so surprising that it is difficult to believe: · If you watch the way a spider makes its web, it's really astonishing.· The submarine was moving through the water at an astonishing speed.· The results of the tests were astounding.· In the area around London, house prices rose by an astounding 200 per cent in three years.it is astonishing/astounding that: · It was astounding that, as a mother, Sally also managed to do two jobs.it is astonishing how/what: · It's astonishing how much things have changed since the arrival of computers.it is astonishing to find/think/realize etc: · Isn't it astonishing to think that people may one day live for hundreds of years?
extremely surprising and difficult to believe: · He's so rude. It's unbelievable!· Over the next two weeks, we saw an incredible change in her character.it is unbelievable/incredible that: · They were driving much too fast. It's incredible that no-one was hurt.it is unbelievable how/what: · I think it was really unbelievable how he went on deceiving her for all those years.it is unbelievable to see/think/realize etc: · It's unbelievable to think how slow things were in the days before e-mail.
something that is unexpected makes you feel surprised because you did not expect it to happen or be true: · Her decision to leave was completely unexpected.· The new drug comes from an unexpected source -- potatoes.· Ella's angry outburst was so unexpected that Mike really didn't know what to say.
a startling fact is one that you would never have expected to be true: · There has been a startling increase in the numbers of homeless people.· The programme documents startling new theories about the way the universe began.
a staggering number or amount is very surprising because it is so large: · Apparently, we spend a staggering £2.4 billion a year on food for our pets.· a staggering rise in crime· The results of the survey were staggering - over half the children said that they went to school without any breakfast.
informal something that is mind-boggling is so big, strange, or complicated that it is almost impossible to imagine or believe: · The amount of money that some countries spend on weapons is mind-boggling.· His salary is nothing compared to the mind-boggling figures earned by some sportsmen.it is mind-boggling to think/realize etc: · It's mind-boggling to think that our solar system is only one among billions.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Her death was totally unexpected. Hague’s announcement was not entirely unexpected.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The robbery took a deadly new twist as the robber pulled out a gun. an unexpected twist in the plotCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
Her death was totally unexpected. Hague’s announcement was not entirely unexpected.· The Senator made the surprise announcement that he will not be seeking re-election.
· John blushed at the unexpected compliment.
· Their work led to some surprising discoveries.
(=a situation that was not planned)· I left half an hour early in case of traffic jams or some other unforeseen emergency.
The robbery took a deadly new twist as the robber pulled out a gun. an unexpected twist in the plot· It was completely unexpected, for John Parker was only forty-two and until then had been the very image of good health.· The sale of StarNet was not completely unexpected.· After all these years of watching birds of prey in flight, I still find that they will do something completely unexpected.· Unlike the lost-carbon riddle, the mysterious oxygen vanishing act in Bio2 was completely unexpected.· He seemed bewildered by this completely unexpected turn of events.· But those were relatively minor compared to a completely unexpected miracle of self-control circuits: their ability to extract precision from grossness.· It happened just before the evening meal, and was completely unexpected.
· The news was not entirely unexpected.· It was entirely unexpected, and its cause a mystery, so much so that poison was inevitably suspected.· This omission was not entirely unexpected.· The amount and quality ofthe sculpture unearthed was not entirely unexpected.· But this was not entirely unexpected.· Since that showed a degree of consistency in attitudes, it was not entirely unexpected.· Not entirely unexpected, but still remarkable.
· Even so, hybrids of the most unexpected kind are becoming commonplace.· Then, a shocking event came to my rescue in the most unexpected place.· The emergency had a most unexpected cause.· He revealed also the most unexpected sensibility.· But the best-tuned car I found came from the most unexpected source you could possibly imagine-Nicole Kidman.· No country has a monopoly on bravery; great deeds of heroism are liable to break out in the most unexpected places.· This line of inquiry proved to be a rewarding path which was, however, to lead in a most unexpected direction.· Often in the most unexpected ways.
· All this has come in a quite unexpected rush.· All this is quite unexpected in the modern frame of reference.· Yet the most welcome consequence of the making of those documentaries and books was quite unexpected.· The most obvious problem, the coup de grace, was a quite unexpected side-effect.· Everywhere in Wednesday's concert there were breathtaking moments where original phrasing and dynamics brought out quite unexpected aspects of the music.· But then something quite unexpected happened.· The results were collated and several quite unexpected facts emerged.
· It made its impact because it was so unexpected.· Oh, my gosh, this is so unexpected!· This is so unexpected when it is encountered for the first time that it feels like a deliberate deception.· And he treasured this new knowledge so unexpected, so exhilarating-all his life.· It was so quick, so unexpected, that it took her breath away.· This brief scene, so unexpected and devastating, turns Blue inside out.· It was so unexpected and over so soon.
· The very first season did produce a totally unexpected bonus, however.· To be shut out at home in two of the last four games is very weird and totally unexpected.· It's quite clear that the eruption was totally unexpected.· By seizing an opportunity she opened up a new and totally unexpected position for the future.· It was totally unexpected, and there was little if any warning for the local authorities involved.· Yet the most impressive songs take a totally unexpected tack.· The answers the workers gave were totally unexpected.
· The results were wholly unexpected: Mercury has small, reflective polar caps with the distinctive depolarization behavior of ice.
NOUN· Or was that a false impression, created by the odd circumstances of their unexpected arrival here?· Hassan says to a stranger, whose unexpected arrival startles his wife and four small children.
· Its anti-nicotine effect was an unexpected bonus.· An unexpected bonus was that the emergency work galvanised Loi out of his melancholy.· The very first season did produce a totally unexpected bonus, however.· Viewing the rapids was an unexpected bonus to the Niagara experience.· However semantic change often gives an unexpected bonus, which one should accept in this case as in others.· Don't assume the Goblins will hit anything - if they do it's an unexpected bonus!· It was an unexpected bonus for a man of fifty-one.
· Risk of unexpected changes in default premium.· Keeping your priorities in order is easier if you are not being swamped by sudden and unexpected changes.· His unexpected changes of direction would take people by surprise.
· There had been the natural initial shock of disbelief at hearing of the unexpected death of any person even casually known.· Most surviving examples are funerary, often commissioned quickly in response to unexpected death from disease, by no means uncommon in antiquity.· Royal patronage and unexpected death also laid the foundation of the power of Edward's third son, John of Gaunt.· The man's words were somehow given greater importance by his unexpected death, and suddenly Clare felt ashamed.· The unexpected death of his son had shattered him.· The most serious risk which faced them was that to their involuntarily parasitic women-folk - the unexpected death of the male breadwinner.· Once again it was an unexpected death which altered the situation.· The third event was the unexpected death of King Stephen's elder son Eustace in August 1153.
· Anyway, I reckoned that this unexpected development might make my task a little easier.· The engineering profession as a whole was baffled by this unexpected development.· It was such an utterly unexpected development that his mind could not register any immediate reaction beyond amazement.· Several unexpected developments cut across the early realization of these ambitious plans.
· During construction Responding promptly to unexpected events.· Meanwhile, an extraordinary and totally unexpected event occurred.· This will facilitate overall coordination and monitoring, which is important when unexpected events occur.
· As she did so she realised she did not yet know the name of their unexpected guest.· So, countless times she gave up her own food when an unexpected guest arrived at dinnertime.· It had probably been the only one aired and ready for the unexpected guest this morning.
· Several useful agents have been found in unexpected places.· Then, a shocking event came to my rescue in the most unexpected place.· Haemoglobin itself crops up in unexpected places.· And his Bible would turn up in some unexpected place that, after all, would make perfect sense.· Full stops are inserted in unexpected places to force the reader to treat certain elements as complete units of information.· No country has a monopoly on bravery; great deeds of heroism are liable to break out in the most unexpected places.· The grain will be out of sight, and certainly in some unexpected place.· Basheer finds hope in unexpected places, like Boulak El Kakrour.
· The success which eluded her in the classroom did arrive but from an unexpected quarter.· Relief came from an unexpected quarter.· Criticism of the government also came from unexpected quarters.· The apparent salvation of his movement came from an unexpected quarter.· But while his emotional life was troubled, Cleese the businessman was finding success in an unexpected quarter - training videos.· He then received a bonus from an unexpected quarter - the Republican Party.
· Illuminative evaluation is not limited by the initial formulation of aims, but allows for the expression of unexpected results.· Practical natural language systems are by necessity large and complex and modification of such systems can lead to unexpected results.· However, some unexpected results occurred.· I am constantly painting, scrubbing out and reworking areas of a picture and often marvellous unexpected results will emerge.· Instead of finding a compositional blurring brought about by glass recycling and trade, chemical analysis has produced some unexpected results.· Since they are not identical, this unexpected result suggests that citations by others occur before the majority of self-citations.
· A report published earlier today showed an unexpected rise in retail sales in November.
· Once again, she hadn't seen it coming; another smack in the face from an unexpected source.· How other institutions will search you out, because publishing an exceptional paper from an unexpected source is more dramatic.· No-one could have foreseen an attack from such an unexpected source.· But the best-tuned car I found came from the most unexpected source you could possibly imagine-Nicole Kidman.· At this stage immediately after metamorphosis, they are vulnerable to another unexpected source of predation.
· This unexpected success was more to do with the low turn-out of bondholders at the meeting rather than any change of attitude.· Maybe we were dazed by our own unexpected success.· Pineapple - tinned, fresh, or fresh-cooked - is excellent in coleslaw and an unexpected success in sauerkraut.· It was a classic unexpected success.· And then, because the first instinct of light fiction is towards the improbable, he stumbles into unexpected success.
· There was that unmistakable sound of the clock striking thirteen about this unexpected turn of events.· Jacinta is once again feeling rejected and persecuted when an unexpected turn in events brings about a happy denouement.· But in Britain things were to take a new and not unexpected turn.· He seemed bewildered by this completely unexpected turn of events.
· This could create all kinds of unexpected twists in the answers that computers generate.· The abortion debate provided an unexpected twist Thursday.
· A POLL-TAX payer has received an apology from Middlesbrough Council after an unexpected visit by the bailiffs.· Taylor received their unexpected visits, notices arrived in the mail informing them that they were being taken to court.· Courtesy forbade him from asking the reason for this unexpected visit.· For all these reasons, the unexpected visit of the clergyman was passed on with ponderous confidentiality.· But as the fire began to smoulder, Gore's sister Catherine paid an unexpected visit to her parents cottage.· We are honoured, Madame Leonie, although this is a strange hour to pay an unexpected visit.· Now I began to understand why he might not want unexpected visits, or gossip.
· I spent the same period fearful of every telephone call, every knock on the door, every unexpected visitor.· But what seemed to fascinate the youngsters most was this unexpected moment from an unexpected visitor.· Being pestered by the press was hardly likely to put Veronica in the mood for unexpected visitors.· A prime clue to the status of an unexpected visitor, Watson, is the vehicle that brings him.
· You may be surprised to find hidden talents, new opportunities and unexpected ways forward.· Writing always reveals the author, sometimes in unexpected ways.· Don't be surprised if your grief manifests itself in unexpected ways.· It will not be eager to initiate those steps which would enable that society to function in unmanageable or unexpected ways.· Tourism is already changing the city in unexpected ways.· They complement one another in unexpected ways, creating a system that thrives on its own success.· She was a fund of knowledge in a thousand unexpected ways.· Their plan, which involves a periscope, works in unexpected ways.
WORD FAMILYnounexpectancyexpectationadjectiveexpectantexpected ≠ unexpectedadverbexpectantlyunexpectedlyverbexpect
used to describe something that is surprising because you were not expecting it: The experiment produced some unexpected results. Her death was totally unexpected. Hague’s announcement was not entirely unexpected.—unexpectedly adverb: His father died unexpectedly.