against (all) expectations

idiom

: although people thought it would be different : although people thought otherwise
Against (all) expectations, the birds survived.

Examples of against (all) expectations in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Agencies have generally failed to measure actual regulatory outcomes against expectations, but new generative and agentic models, as well as more traditional AI data analytics tools, may be able to support such retrospective review. Susan E. Dudley, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025 But Moody followed up with a Facebook message thanking the composer for his time in working with the class, and, against all expectations, Abels responded by asking for Moody’s reel. Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 25 July 2025 And the unemployment rate also looks encouraging, falling to 4.1% against expectations of a rise to 4.3% for the first time since October 2021, when the country was still in the throes of pandemic upheaval. Lucy Bayly, CNN Money, 3 July 2025 Only 62,000 jobs were added against expectations of 120,000. The Editors, National Review, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for against (all) expectations

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Against (all) expectations.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/against%20%28all%29%20expectations. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!