wider Erwarten: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  Standard Germanformalneutral
  • Literally: contrary to expectation or against what was expected.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Wider Erwarten hat das kleine Startup den Wettbewerb gewonnen.

    Contrary to expectations, the small startup won the competition.

  • Die Ergebnisse der Umfrage waren wider Erwarten sehr positiv.

    The survey results were unexpectedly very positive.

  • Wider Erwarten konnte sie die Prüfung bestehen, obwohl sie kaum gelernt hatte.

    Against expectations, she was able to pass the exam even though she had hardly studied.

• 2.

  GermanyAustriaSwitzerlandformalneutral
  • Figuratively: unexpectedly; in a way that contradicts what was anticipated.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Das Wetter hat wider Erwarten aufgeklart, sodass wir doch wandern gehen konnten.

    The weather unexpectedly cleared up, so we could still go hiking.

  • Wider Erwarten kam das Paket bereits am nächsten Tag an, obwohl die Lieferung lange dauern sollte.

    Unexpectedly, the package arrived the very next day, although the delivery was supposed to take a long time.

  • Er hatte wider Erwarten Erfolg mit seinem neuen Projekt, obwohl viele skeptisch waren.

    He was unexpectedly successful with his new project, even though many were skeptical.