unexpectedly
adv.happening in a way that you did not think would happen. You use this when something surprises you because you were not waiting for it.
adv.occurring in a manner that was not anticipated or foreseen. Typically modifies a verb to indicate a sudden or surprising change in circumstances.
“The rain started unexpectedly during our picnic.”
“The meeting ended unexpectedly early, giving everyone a chance to catch up on their emails.”
“The CEO announced her resignation unexpectedly during the quarterly review, leaving the board of directors scrambling to find a suitable interim replacement.”
Typically placed before the main verb or at the end of the clause; can also appear at the start of a sentence for emphasis.
Learners often use the adjective form 'unexpected' when the adverb 'unexpectedly' is required to modify a verb.
From unexpected + -ly or un- + expectedly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.