WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
un•ex•pect•ed /ˌʌnɪkˈspɛktɪd/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- not expected;
unforeseen.
un•ex•pect•ed
(un′ik spek′tid),USA pronunciation adj.
un′ex•pect′ed•ly, adv.
un′ex•pect′ed•ness, n.
- not expected;
unforeseen;
surprising:an unexpected pleasure; an unexpected development.
- un-1 + expect + -ed2 1580–90
un′ex•pect′ed•ness, n.
- unanticipated. See sudden.
'unexpectedness' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):