meeting unexpectedly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "meeting unexpectedly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an encounter or gathering that occurs without prior notice or planning. Example: "I ran into my old friend at the coffee shop, meeting unexpectedly after so many years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Obama joined the meeting unexpectedly.

The New Yorker

The first concrete example came in October 2002, when Mr. Chirac and Mr. Schröder, on the eve of a summit meeting, unexpectedly reached agreement on blocking reform of the European Union's costly agricultural subsidy program until 2006.

The New York Times

For no reason that they could have explained, they both started to laugh, and they looked round at the other diners hoping that they would notice the two attractive girls laughing together, the two friends enjoying each other's confidence, the two lonely Martians meeting unexpectedly on Earth.

The Guardian - Books

"They went through the first barrier like it was water, then went across into the second barrier line". U.S., French, British, Saudi and Egyptian forces poured through their own breaches, meeting unexpectedly light resistance and encountering masses of Iraqis clamoring to surrender.

Los Angeles Times

Iraq's troops captured the city of Khorramshahr but failed to take the important oil-refining centre of Ābādān, and by December 1980 the Iraqi offensive had bogged down about 50 75 miles (80 120 km) inside Iran after meeting unexpectedly strong Iranian resistance.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

I would leave meetings unexpectedly -- especially if they involved the financials or sales targets.

Huffington Post

A cabinet meeting was unexpectedly convened last week, and the constitutional amendment was authorized.

The New York Times

BRYAN WALKS IN ON A MEETING HERE; Unexpectedly Addresses the Child Welfare Conference at the Biltmore.

The New York Times

Many in the audience described the meeting as unexpectedly flat, apart from the growth predictions.

The New York Times

Archives|BRYAN WALKS IN ON A MEETING HERE; Unexpectedly Addresses the Child Welfare Conference at the Biltmore.

The New York Times

'Still my probation officer thought I was clean, he saw me as a role model, so he asked me to speak to this parents group.' The meeting was, unexpectedly, a turning point in his life.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "meeting unexpectedly", ensure the context clearly indicates the lack of prior arrangement or planning to emphasize the element of surprise or coincidence.

Common error

Be mindful that "meeting unexpectedly" doesn't inherently convey a positive sentiment. The outcome of the meeting can be neutral or even negative, depending on the context. Specify the nature of the meeting's impact if it's relevant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "meeting unexpectedly" functions as an adverbial modifier, adding detail about how an event (the meeting) occurred. As exemplified by Ludwig, it describes the manner of the encounter, highlighting its unplanned nature.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "meeting unexpectedly" is a grammatically sound and neutrally-registered expression used to describe unplanned encounters. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides several real-world examples, mainly from news and media sources, demonstrating its common function as an adverbial modifier. While not exceedingly frequent, it effectively communicates the surprise or lack of premeditation surrounding an event. When using this phrase, consider the context and potential alternatives to ensure the desired nuance is accurately conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encountering by chance

Replaces the sense of a planned "meeting" with the idea of a random "encounter".

running into unexpectedly

Focuses on the action of "running into" someone or something without warning.

bumping into unexpectedly

Similar to "running into", but emphasizes a more abrupt or physical encounter.

coming across unexpectedly

Highlights the act of "coming across" something unforeseen.

finding unexpectedly

Shifts the focus to the discovery aspect of the unplanned encounter.

stumbling upon unexpectedly

Suggests a more accidental or unintentional discovery.

chancing upon unexpectedly

Emphasizes the element of "chance" in the encounter.

converging unexpectedly

Highlights the merging of paths or ideas in an unplanned manner.

assembling spontaneously

Focuses on the group forming with no previous organization or plan.

gathering unplanned

Emphasizes the lack of planning in the assemblage of individuals.

FAQs

What does "meeting unexpectedly" mean?

It means encountering someone or something without prior planning or anticipation.

How can I use "meeting unexpectedly" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe unplanned encounters, such as "I was "running errands" and ended up "meeting unexpectedly" with a friend."

What can I say instead of "meeting unexpectedly"?

You could use phrases like "encountering by chance", "running into unexpectedly", or "bumping into unexpectedly" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "meeting unexpectedly" formal or informal?

It's generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal settings might benefit from alternatives like "encountering by chance" for enhanced precision.