Unanticipated: meaning, definitions and examples

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unanticipated

 

[ ʌnˈæntɪsɪˌpeɪtɪd ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

unexpected situation

Not expected or anticipated; happening unexpectedly.

Synonyms

surprising, unexpected, unforeseen.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
unanticipated

Used to describe something that was not thought of or planned for, often in formal or academic settings.

  • The results of the experiment were completely unanticipated
  • They had to deal with several unanticipated challenges during the project
unexpected

Commonly used in everyday language to describe something that happens out of the blue, without warning.

  • She received some unexpected news this morning
  • The sudden storm was totally unexpected
surprising

Appropriate for casual or informal situations where something causes astonishment or wonder.

  • It was surprising to see him at the party
  • The movie had a surprising twist at the end
unforeseen

Often utilized in professional or legal scenarios to describe events that could not have been predicted or planned for.

  • They faced some unforeseen issues during construction
  • His resignation created unforeseen complications for the team

Examples of usage

  • The unanticipated rain caught us off guard.
  • Her unanticipated visit brought a smile to my face.

Translations

Translations of the word "unanticipated" in other languages:

🇵🇹 inesperado

🇮🇳 अप्रत्याशित

🇩🇪 unvorhergesehen

🇮🇩 tidak terduga

🇺🇦 непередбачений

🇵🇱 nieoczekiwany

🇯🇵 予期しない

🇫🇷 inattendu

🇪🇸 inesperado

🇹🇷 beklenmedik

🇰🇷 예상치 못한

🇸🇦 غير متوقع

🇨🇿 nepředvídaný

🇸🇰 nepredvídaný

🇨🇳 意料之外的

🇸🇮 nepričakovan

🇮🇸 óvæntur

🇰🇿 күтпеген

🇬🇪 მოულოდნელი

🇦🇿 gözlənilməz

🇲🇽 inesperado

Etymology

The word 'unanticipated' is derived from the verb 'anticipate', which comes from the Latin word 'anticipare', meaning 'to take beforehand'. The prefix 'un-' is added to indicate the opposite or negation of the word. The concept of anticipating events or outcomes has been a part of human cognition for centuries, as individuals have always tried to predict and prepare for the future. The word 'unanticipated' serves to describe events or situations that are not predicted or foreseen.

See also: anticipatable, anticipate, anticipated, anticipating, anticipatingly, anticipation, anticipatory.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #18,618, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.