[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/unexpected/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [U](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/u/) / unexpected

# unexpected

adjective (unexpected); adverb unexpectedly; noun the unexpected

«unexpected» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Not expected; surprising because you did not think it would happen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unexpected/#m1)
2. (noun «the unexpected») Things that surprise you: «Expect the unexpected.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unexpected/#m2)

### In the lessons

Very common in stories, where unexpected events make a plot exciting («an unexpected visitor»). In science, an unexpected result in an experiment is something to check and think about. In safety: be ready for the unexpected. Phrases: «unexpected guest», «the unexpected», «quite unexpected».

### Examples

- We had an unexpected visitor at the door. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unexpected/#x1)
- The test result was unexpected: the plant grew faster in the dark. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unexpected/#x2)
- An unexpected storm ruined the picnic. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unexpected/#x3)
- Expect the unexpected when you go camping. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unexpected/#x4)
- Her unexpected gift made me smile. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unexpected/#x5)
- The answer 0 was unexpected, so we checked our working. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unexpected/#x6)
- What an unexpected sight met his gaze! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unexpected/#x7)

### Note

Takes «an»: «an unexpected surprise». Opposite: expected, predicted. In science, an unexpected result is not automatically wrong; check the method and repeat.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «unexpected» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unexpected/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«unexpected» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/unexpected.html) on Mova free.