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.

When I was 8, my parents took me by surprise.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

And so when she hears it again, it takes her by surprise.

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026

These events are a reminder of how we are completely taken by surprise, and how such short spaces of time show the limits of traditional warning systems.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2026

And he vowed to "fight relentlessly" with further strikes that would catch Moscow by surprise.

From Barron's • May 17, 2026

He crawled into bed, sliding so effortlessly into sleep that when morning came, it caught him by surprise.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny