How to Use unexpected in a Sentence

unexpected

adjective
  • I'm sad that she's leaving, but it was not unexpected.
  • The road to fame can lead you to many unexpected places.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
  • But then again, love can be found in the most unexpected places.
    — Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 21 Jan. 2026
  • New places, new faces and new ideas might give your day an unexpected lift!
    — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
  • The loss is due to unexpected cost overruns on a core project.
    — Quartz Bot, Quartz, 19 Nov. 2024
  • There was an upset on the men’s side, as well, but not as unexpected.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2025
  • That must feel strange, but not unexpected.
    — Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Or an unexpected favor or gift might come your way.
    — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 4 Mar. 2026
  • At the same time, Agnes’ own evening takes an unexpected turn.
    — Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Be ready for anything unexpected, but have a great time.
    — Aaron Gilchrist, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Brazil’s elections have been warped in the past by unexpected events.
    — Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 9 Aug. 2022
  • To be frank, that was unexpected.
    — Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The dog has also shown up in unexpected places.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Talk about range, talk about unexpected.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Tyla is never one to shy away from a bold or unexpected shoe choice.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 11 June 2026
  • What has been the most unexpected part of working on this side of the business?
    — Kerry Pieri, Harper's BAZAAR, 16 May 2022
  • This could be a surprise bill or an unexpected expense that pops up over the next few weeks.
    — Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2022
  • The post says that Redd had an unexpected rapid decline in his health.
    — Fox19 Digital Staff, The Enquirer, 5 Sep. 2023
  • An unexpected phone call from an old hook-up threatens to derail his plans.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Your own four walls are the main arena for any of today's unexpected events.
    — Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022
  • Foods that might seem mismatched get a turn to shine with new and unexpected partners.
    — Kim Sunée, Anchorage Daily News, 25 Nov. 2021
  • This is the kind of wry, unexpected gallows humor that this show does so well.
    — Jen Chaney, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
  • An unexpected exchange with a spouse or partner might catch you off guard.
    — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 26 June 2026
  • The fact that old Ed stood his ground against Kennedy was unexpected.
    — Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
  • An unexpected perk is that these won’t clog your lint dryer like some other fluffy styles.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 15 Apr. 2026
  • By the end of the show, Barney’s love life took an unexpected turn.
    — Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
  • One of her favorite ways to have some fun in this space is with more unexpected color plays and prints.
    — Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Mar. 2023
  • Over at Ole Miss, the snack of choice comes from a more unexpected source.
    — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2025
  • For a fun, unexpected summer nail look, opt for bright shades of green polish.
    — Rebecca Norris, InStyle, 18 June 2026
  • The Scream actress turned heads in a black high-neck gown with unexpected cutouts.
    — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 11 Jan. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unexpected.' 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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