unbidden

Examples

• All

• I asked, a laugh rising unbidden from my lips.

• I continued to concentrate on holding on to it, but more unbidden, distracting images appeared before me.

  Fiction book (1997)

• I recognized the tune, and the words came into my head unbidden.

  Fiction book (2002)

• No dog of flesh and blood will take your place, nor ever stem the tears that come unbidden from the heart.

  The Royal Institution

• I took a deep breath, and unbidden, the song floated up into the winter night.

  Fiction book (1991)

• The thought, Fancy that, came unbidden to Kel's mind.

  Fiction book (2001)

• As he worked, the chorus of an old Sunday-school hymn came unbidden to his mind.

  Fiction book (2000)

• Listener felt her own spine rise up in response, her body obeying an unbidden, ancient instinct.

  Fiction book (2002)

• Amid these thoughts, there cropped up unbidden images of herself at the altar in her wedding finery.

  Fiction book (1993)

• I nodded and looked away, but not before tears of self-pity sprang unbidden to my eyes.

  Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

S

spontaneous

vsunbidden

187 4.2

Happening naturally without planning or outside cause

adds the idea of happening without request or command

I

involuntary

vsunbidden

73 5.4

Not done on purpose and not under a person's control

is broader, including spontaneous acts that are not just uncontrolled

U

unintended

vsunbidden

53 4.1

Not planned and not done on purpose

adds the nuance of happening without being asked or commanded

I

impromptu

vsunbidden

37 6.3

Done or said without preparation

covers spontaneous action but also involuntary responses not chosen

U

unintentional

vsunbidden

26 4.1

Happening by accident

may overlap but additionally involves not being invited or commanded

U

unplanned

vsunbidden

25 3.5

Happening by chance without getting ready first

includes chance events but also those done without being asked

I

inadvertent

vsunbidden

15 6.6

Not done on purpose and happening by accident

matches accidental nature but also covers actions done without request

U

unforced

vsunbidden

7 4.9

Happens naturally without pressure or effort

can be involuntary and done without being asked or invited

U

unrehearsed

vsunbidden

7 5.3

Not planned or practiced before

may be involuntary or unasked rather than merely unpractised

U

unpremeditated

vsunbidden

2 7.5

Happening without being planned or thought about first

can also happen involuntarily or without any invitation or command

U

unprompted

vsunbidden

2 6.2

Done without being asked

is similar but stresses lack of asking or commanding rather than just spontaneity

U

unheralded

vsunbidden

1 7.4

Happening suddenly without warning

is similar in surprise but also implies lack of invitation or command

U

unstudied

vsunbidden

1 6.4

Not planned or practiced and seeming natural

is focused more on happening without invitation or control

U

uncontrived

vsunbidden

7.0

Appearing natural and not forced

emphasizes authenticity while the key stresses lack of request or command

N

nonvoluntary

vsunbidden

8.0

An action that happens without a person choosing or controlling it

includes such lack of will while also stressing absence of command

U

uncommanded

vsunbidden

8.1

Occurs without a person's control and not on purpose, like a sudden laugh

is similar but covers any unasked or uninvited occurrences

How Voluntary

voluntary

180 3.7

spontaneous

187 4.2

unbidden

5 7.5

involuntary

73 5.4

forced

3.4

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology