entirely unforeseen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "entirely unforeseen" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an event or situation that was completely unexpected or not anticipated at all. Example: "The sudden storm was entirely unforeseen, catching everyone off guard and causing significant disruptions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

These might be new-age nuclear reactors, vastly improved solar cells, or something entirely unforeseen.

The New York Times - Science

Shane Danielson, the festival's artistic director, said: "Obviously it's disappointing, but it's not entirely unforeseen.

The Guardian

The drama at Blind Lake gradually expands to encompass humans and aliens in entirely unforeseen ways.

The New York Times - Books

And for some unknown reason I ended up spending an entirely unforeseen day writing about Susan Boyle.

The Guardian - Books

The Guinness automata drew my family to the Morris Museum, but by the time we left I was embarked on an entirely unforeseen research project.

The New York Times - Arts

Warner c Bairstow b Anderson 9 (Australia 19-1) Warner's flighty knock comes to an abrupt, but not entirely unforeseen, end.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"Yeah, that was completely unforeseen," he laughs.

The Guardian - Music

It's uncomfortable in completely unforeseen ways.

Vice

This is not entirely an unforeseen triumph.

The New York Times

While data publishers often have initial research problems in mind for their data, they might also hope that their data will ultimately be used to study entirely different, unforeseen problems.

Functional and Integrative Genomics

Mizue's work, arrangesth other talented indepatternsJandnese filmmakers, is avisualle on the indie visual label CALF.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "entirely unforeseen" to underscore the complete lack of anticipation regarding a particular event or outcome. This emphasizes the unexpected nature of the situation and can add weight to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "entirely unforeseen" in situations where some level of uncertainty or potential for unexpected events is already implied. Overusing it in such contexts diminishes its impact. Reserve it for genuinely surprising occurrences to maintain its effectiveness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "entirely unforeseen" functions as an adjective modifying a noun, emphasizing the unexpected nature of the noun. It intensifies the sense of surprise or lack of anticipation associated with an event or situation, as illustrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "entirely unforeseen" effectively conveys a sense of complete unexpectedness, highlighting events or situations that were not anticipated in any way. Ludwig confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of this phrase. While not exceptionally common, its usage is distributed across reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, suggesting its reliability in formal and informal contexts. When aiming to emphasize the element of surprise or lack of foresight, "entirely unforeseen" serves as a potent and accurate choice. Alternatives such as "completely unanticipated" or "totally unexpected" can be considered for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely unanticipated

Emphasizes the lack of prior anticipation, similar to "entirely unforeseen".

totally unexpected

Focuses on the element of surprise, mirroring the unexpected nature of "entirely unforeseen".

utterly unpredicted

Highlights the inability to predict the event, akin to "entirely unforeseen".

wholly unanticipated

Synonymous, stresses the complete absence of anticipation.

altogether unpredicted

Conveys the idea that the event was in no way predicted.

absolutely unlooked-for

Implies that the event was not expected or sought after.

quite unheralded

Suggests the event occurred without any prior indication or warning.

genuinely surprising

Focuses on the surprise element more than the lack of foresight.

out of the blue

An idiomatic expression emphasizing suddenness and unexpectedness.

without warning

Highlights the lack of any preceding sign or indication.

FAQs

How can I use "entirely unforeseen" in a sentence?

Use "entirely unforeseen" to describe something that was completely unexpected and not anticipated. For example: "The consequences of the new policy were "entirely unforeseen"."

What are some alternatives to "entirely unforeseen"?

You can use alternatives such as "completely unanticipated", "totally unexpected", or "utterly unpredicted" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "completely entirely unforeseen"?

Yes, saying "completely entirely unforeseen" is redundant. The word "entirely" already implies a complete lack of foresight, so adding "completely" is unnecessary.

What is the difference between "unforeseen" and "entirely unforeseen"?

"Unforeseen" simply means not anticipated. "Entirely unforeseen" emphasizes that the event was completely unexpected and not foreseen at all. The addition of "entirely" strengthens the sense of surprise.