unforeseenun‧fore‧seen /ˌʌnfɔːˈsiːn◂ $ -fɔːr-/ adjective 
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the play has been cancelled.unforeseen problems/difficulties/delays unforeseen delays in supplying the equipment
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Once you have started the training you will not be allowed to leave, unless unforeseen circumstances arise.
- These actions may have unforeseen consequences.
- We had to cancel our visit to Egypt because of unforeseen problems.
- An interest-free loan fund is also available to students who find themselves in unforeseen financial difficulty.
- But I was slow to get started on this project and before I could something unforeseen happened.
- I had met Hugo at a party and unforeseen and overwhelming emotions had consumed me.
- Our clients reserve the right to alter this timetable in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
- Planned maintenance minimises unforeseen breakdowns, reduces machine running costs and ensures optimum machine availability.
- Something totally unforeseen could occur to preclude it.
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!
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Due to unforeseen circumstances, the play has been cancelled. unforeseen delays in supplying the equipmentCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
an unforeseen situation is one that you did not expect to happenunforeseen circumstances/events/changes etc Due to unforeseen circumstances, the play has been cancelled. unforeseen delays in supplying the equipment (=that you did not realize would happen)· The tragedy was the result of a series of unforeseen circumstances.
(=a situation that was not planned)· I left half an hour early in case of traffic jams or some other unforeseen emergency.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· In particular, it is recognised that agents may use some assets as a buffer-stock against unforeseen changes in net receipts.· Just when everything seems to be going well, some unforeseen change of mood or some unexpected symptom plunges you down again.· A market would be a relatively costly way of adjusting the uses made of specific assets in response to unforeseen changes revealed over time.
· It was an interesting move pregnant with unforeseen circumstances, not least the concern and misunderstanding to which it gave rise locally.· Our clients reserve the right to alter this timetable in the event of unforeseen circumstances.· The player did eventually join the Peacocks, but under unusual and unforeseen circumstances.· In the hours you allocate for work, sort out your priorities, reordering them when unforeseen circumstances arise.· Since decisions are quicker, they are also more adaptable, and easier to change in the light of unforeseen circumstances which may arise.· In some unforeseen circumstances like death, one parent has to be enough.
· Officials have shown ignorance of the fact that locking their countries into trade rules can have unforeseen consequences.· Measures of this sort are no doubt often inconsistent with each other and may have unforeseen consequences.· The culture will not work as planned, and unforeseen consequences may be catastrophic.· Similarly, there may be no control over the consequences of changing the different variables and there may be unforeseen consequences.
· Such projects require a creative environment and flexible plans with ample room for unforeseen delays.
· These energies often lie dormant till triggered by some unforeseen event or response.· Other unforeseen events also occurred in my family.
· Without an efficient system and good professional advice, unforeseen problems can develop into major setbacks.· It was furthermore an exercise in gaining experience in measurements with grass samples, to assist in spotting unforeseen problems.· This would allow us to make any changes we felt were appropriate and would highlight any unforeseen problems.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the play has been cancelled.unforeseen problems/difficulties/delays unforeseen delays in supplying the equipment