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by surprise





Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Maybe the furnace needs replacing, a medical bill arrives out of the blue, or an education expense catches you by surprise.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026

The collapse of Florida’s citrus industry, he told me, took everyone by surprise.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

The audience should be taken by surprise and realize, in the middle of their laughter, just how truly clever the joke is, causing them to laugh even harder.

From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026

“It would certainly catch me by surprise and feel a little reckless. And I think I’d probably be the last person people would be worried about,” Cooke said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

Our arrival catches both of us by surprise.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed