Meaning & use
unexpected
Not predicted or thought likely to happen.
See it in a sentence
An unexpected visitor arrived just before dinner.
The quiet path took an unexpected turn toward the river.
A note on using this word
An unexpected event may be welcome or unwelcome. The word describes a lack of expectation, not whether the event is good.
Words with a similar meaning
unforeseensurprising
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
expectedanticipated
Make it your own
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