How to Use unbeknownst in a Sentence

unbeknownst

adjective
  • Then, with the gala—this whole thing was unbeknownst to me.
    — Aariana Rose Philip, Vogue, 4 May 2026
  • So, unbeknownst to me at the time, this played out in my usage of them.
    — Rachel Nussbaum, Glamour, 28 May 2018
  • Dobson says the tracks were given to those artists unbeknownst to her.
    — Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 9 June 2021
  • But some get a little messier over time—unbeknownst to their owner.
    — Katherine Ellen Foley, Quartz, 19 Nov. 2019
  • But he is still floored by the scene that unfolded that evening, unbeknownst to anyone.
    — Joe Sonka, The Courier-Journal, 20 Mar. 2020
  • Hilton returned to the game a short time later and played well, unbeknownst to Simms.
    — Dave Clark, The Enquirer, 12 Dec. 2022
  • Young Philip, unbeknownst to him, had been handed a new kind of country to grow up in.
    — Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2021
  • Johnson has already tried out the creations on her star clients, unbeknownst to them and fans at the time.
    — Lindsay Weinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Sep. 2019
  • Tragedy awaits this family; unbeknownst to them, the daughter of the house has just drowned.
    — Ben Brantley, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2016
  • In two hours, unbeknownst to her procurers, the new girl was picked up in a general pross bust.
    — Gail Sheehy, Daily Intelligencer, 9 Sep. 2017
  • While the three were walking home, unbeknownst to them, a person in a red car was following them.
    — Staff Author, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
  • But, unbeknownst to him, the Wootens’ neighbors have been murdered.
    — Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 12 May 2021
  • Kelly at the same time, unbeknownst to me, had also chosen to be called Oma.
    — Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2020
  • And, unbeknownst to me, my son was filling his diaper, the contents of which leaked all over my shirt.
    — Jen Gann, The Cut, 19 Sep. 2017
  • And completely unbeknownst to us, last week, a large consumer search engine picked that up.
    — Recode Staff, Recode, 12 July 2018
  • But unbeknownst to her, each of the Blisses have a guest of their own arriving at the very same time.
    — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
  • In both cases, the guns fired lead projectiles, unbeknownst to the actors and crew.
    — Maria Puente, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2021
  • Martine, unbeknownst to Bill and his wife, feared dogs the way other people fear the abyss.
    — Binnie Kirshenbaum, Esquire, 11 July 2007
  • Tainted to the brazen thief who unzipped my purse, stole my wallet, then re-zipped my bag, unbeknownst to the four of us at our table.
    — Sainted & Tainted Writers, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2017
  • The citizens of Louisville are, unbeknownst to them, much better off because of her work.
    — The Courier-Journal, 14 Dec. 2022
  • That phone call was recorded by the FBI, unbeknownst to Koslow.
    — Susannah Bryan, sun-sentinel.com, 1 Aug. 2019
  • The most attractive men were also, unbeknownst to raters, the riders that performed best.
    — Bill Andrews, Discover Magazine, 5 Feb. 2014
  • But unbeknownst to the dogs and their owners, the relentless sun had also made the pond a bathtub of toxins.
    — Katie Mettler, chicagotribune.com, 20 Aug. 2019
  • When Scott sold his beloved boat, unbeknownst to him the buyers were drug smugglers, Balfour said.
    — Tonya Alanez, Sun-Sentinel.com, 25 Oct. 2017
  • And, unbeknownst to Bird, there was a man in those bushes watching, a man named Bill Hodges.
    — Dana Hunsinger Benbow, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Nov. 2021
  • By that time, unbeknownst to Kristina, AJ had already set his sights on Italy.
    — Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Under the cloak of darkness, more than two dozen parents sneaked out of their homes one evening in March, unbeknownst to their teenage sons and daughters.
    — Donna Vickroy, Daily Southtown, 7 Apr. 2018
  • The novel follows a man who, unbeknownst to everyone around him, has been alive and frozen as a 41-year-old for centuries.
    — Mary Sollosi, EW.com, 2 Feb. 2018
  • Hidden in that crowd, unbeknownst to the Fenveses, was Maris, their former longtime cook.
    — Margaret Littman, sun-sentinel.com, 3 Mar. 2021
  • And so Prentice, unbeknownst to me, had Yvonne actually talk to me as Yvonne and say words to me.
    — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2021

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unbeknownst.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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