adj

unexpected

uh-nihk-SPEHK-tihd

adj

Not anticipated or predicted beforehand.

"The team pulled off an unexpected victory in the final minutes."

"Her resignation came as an unexpected shock to the board."

How to Use Unexpected

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA surprise — something that happened without anyone predicting it.

Common pairings

unexpected turn unexpected result unexpected guest

more unexpected comparative, unexpecteds plural, most unexpected superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

The team pulled off an _____ victory in the final minutes.

From un- ("not") plus expected, the past participle of expect.

expected

standard historical unorthodox normal expected surprising indescribable

erected elected expected dejected directed affected detected selected effected infected projected deflected

expected standard historical unorthodox normal surprising indescribable