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.
Panella got wind of “The End of Oak Street” from a post highlighting Hathaway’s slate of upcoming films, only to be caught by surprise.
From Salon • Apr. 12, 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
After the brothers drove the price up, new supplies came flooding into the market, catching the Hunts by surprise.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
The pelvic floor physio however, did catch her by surprise.
From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026
Abigail herself reported that all the bedrock Federalist enclaves of New England were taken by surprise: “the whole community were like a flock of frightened pigions; nobody had their story ready.”
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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