UNLOOKED-FOR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does unlooked-for mean? 

• UNLOOKED-FOR (adjective)
  The adjective UNLOOKED-FOR has 1 sense:

1. not anticipated

  Familiarity information: UNLOOKED-FOR used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNLOOKED-FOR (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Not anticipated

Synonyms:

out of the blue; unanticipated; unforeseen; unlooked-for; unseen

Context example:

unseen problems

Similar:

unexpected (not expected or anticipated)

 Context examples 

His unlooked-for return was enough in itself to make Catherine's heart sink, and for a few moments she hardly supposed there were anything worse to be told.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Mr. Utterson’s nerves, at this unlooked-for termination, gave a jerk that nearly threw him from his balance; but he recollected his courage and followed the butler into the laboratory building through the surgical theatre, with its lumber of crates and bottles, to the foot of the stair.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

She had found a seat, where in excessive trembling she was enduring all these fearful thoughts, while the other three, no longer under any restraint, were giving vent to their feelings of vexation, lamenting over such an unlooked-for premature arrival as a most untoward event, and without mercy wishing poor Sir Thomas had been twice as long on his passage, or were still in Antigua.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

He was not ill-inclined to obey this request, for, though his heart was greatly relieved by such unlooked-for mildness, it was not just at that moment in his power to say anything to the purpose.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Excepting the moments of peculiar delight, which any marked or unlooked-for instance of Edmund's consideration of her in the last few months had excited, Fanny had never known so much felicity in her life, as in this unchecked, equal, fearless intercourse with the brother and friend who was opening all his heart to her, telling her all his hopes and fears, plans, and solicitudes respecting that long thought of, dearly earned, and justly valued blessing of promotion; who could give her direct and minute information of the father and mother, brothers and sisters, of whom she very seldom heard; who was interested in all the comforts and all the little hardships of her home at Mansfield; ready to think of every member of that home as she directed, or differing only by a less scrupulous opinion, and more noisy abuse of their aunt Norris, and with whom (perhaps the dearest indulgence of the whole) all the evil and good of their earliest years could be gone over again, and every former united pain and pleasure retraced with the fondest recollection.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

She was received by the Allens with all the kindness which her unlooked-for appearance, acting on a steady affection, would naturally call forth; and great was their surprise, and warm their displeasure, on hearing how she had been treated—though Mrs. Morland's account of it was no inflated representation, no studied appeal to their passions.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)