unlooked-for

Examples

• All

• "Galvanized into action by his mother's unlooked-for capitulation on all suits, he gathered the treasured box of knights into his arms.

  Fiction book (1990)

• All choices will lead to some unlooked-for results and unforeseen complications.

  Academic text (1994)

• "If you think you can convince him, do it." As he watched Garth leave the Council Chamber, a thought came to Dail all unlooked for:

  Fiction book (1992)

• I understand the temptation to make the leap to the idea that massive fraud was responsible for the unlooked-for outcome, but, well, that doesn't seem all that likely to me.

  Blog text (31)

• Lord Willoughby, I set out to land you at port royal, but now-- Miss Bishop, an unlooked-for circumstance prevents my landing you on your own dock, but I trust that the beach nearby will be equally satisfactory.

  Captain Blood (1935)

• Her unlooked-for achievement was the subject of wonder, applause, and admiration.

• This gracious revelation of a savior came unasked and unlooked-for.

Synonyms

U

unexpected

vsunlooked-for

394 2.5

Happening without warning

is the neutral term for events that are simply not expected

O

out of the blue

vsunlooked-for

• Informal

111 3.4

Something happens suddenly and without warning

is the neutral term for not expected events that need not be sudden

U

unseen

vsunlooked-for

41 5.1

Not expected before and causing trouble or surprise

emphasizes lack of prior notice rather than only absence of expectation

U

unforeseen

vsunlooked-for

34 4.7

Not expected to happen

is the neutral expression for events that were not expected or planned

U

unplanned

vsunlooked-for

25 3.5

Happening by chance without getting ready first

is about absence of expectation rather than absence of planning or intention

U

unanticipated

vsunlooked-for

11 5.8

Happening suddenly without warning

is the general word for things that simply were not expected

U

unforeseeable

vsunlooked-for

5 6.7

Impossible to know before it happens

means not expected but does not claim absolute impossibility of prediction

U

undreamed

vsunlooked-for

3 8.4

Not imagined or expected, even in your wildest dreams

describes things simply not expected without that dreamlike impossibility

U

unimagined

vsunlooked-for

3 7.0

Not thought of before or expected

is the neutral term for events not expected without that extreme unlikelihood

U

unpredicted

vsunlooked-for

1 5.1

Happening when no one expects it

is the broader term for events that were simply not expected

U

unlooked

vsunlooked-for

• Archaic

1 8.9

Not expected and often surprising

is the general term for events that occur without prior expectation

U

unheralded

vsunlooked-for

1 7.4

Happening suddenly without warning

is the general term for events not expected, not focusing on announcement

U

unthought-of

vsunlooked-for

1 7.9

No one expects it before it happens

means simply not expected without stressing the impossibility of imagining it

U

unwonted

vsunlooked-for

• Literature

1 9.9

Not usual or expected in a situation

is the everyday word for things that simply were not expected

U

unguessed

vsunlooked-for

1 7.4

No one knows what it is

refers more widely to things simply not expected, not only lacking guesses

U

unhoped-for

vsunlooked-for

1 7.8

An unexpected pleasant event that brings good results

is neutral about feeling, meaning simply without prior expectation

U

unhoped

vsunlooked-for

1 9.9

Very unexpected and better than anyone imagined

is the plain term for not expected, without the extra sense of impossibility

U

unconceived

vsunlooked-for

1 8.6

Not thought of before

focuses on lack of expectation rather than absence of planning or creation

Antonyms

A

awaited

36 2.2

Expected with hope or excitement

How Unexpected

astonishing

135 3.4

surprising

489 1.8

unlooked-for

1 8.0

unforeseen

34 4.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology