the unexpected
noun
: things that happen unexpectedly
Drivers must always be prepared to deal with the unexpected.
Examples of the unexpected in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Israel says its air strikes against Hezbollah forces in Syria were one factor in the unexpected fall of the Assad regime there in December 2024.
—
Susan Page, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
There are nods to the unexpected people who factored into Sacramento’s jazz scene, such as Sherwood Johnson, founder of Shakey’s Pizza, which not only launched from Sacramento to become an international restaurant chain but also hosted jazz locally.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2025
The Dino-Soar Rockets even came with the unexpected benefit of inspiring some friendly competition as friends tried to see whose rocket could go the highest.
—Emily Glover, Parents, 2 Oct. 2025
The answer seems to lie in the unexpected.
—Mark Holgate, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the unexpected
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Susan Page, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
There are nods to the unexpected people who factored into Sacramento’s jazz scene, such as Sherwood Johnson, founder of Shakey’s Pizza, which not only launched from Sacramento to become an international restaurant chain but also hosted jazz locally.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2025
The Dino-Soar Rockets even came with the unexpected benefit of inspiring some friendly competition as friends tried to see whose rocket could go the highest.
—Emily Glover, Parents, 2 Oct. 2025
The answer seems to lie in the unexpected.
—Mark Holgate, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the unexpected
Cite this Entry
“The unexpected.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20unexpected. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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