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spontaneous meaning and examples

2025-09-06

Meaning

Spontaneous (adjective) means something done naturally, without pre-planning or external force. It describes actions, feelings, or reactions that happen freely and immediately.

Grammar and Usage

  • Part of speech: Adjective
  • Used before nouns or after linking verbs (e.g., be, feel, seem).
  • Describes unplanned actions, natural behavior, or instinctive reactions.

Structures:

  • be spontaneous
  • spontaneous decision/action/reaction

Common Phrases

  • Spontaneous decision
  • Spontaneous reaction
  • Spontaneous laughter
  • Spontaneous trip
  • Spontaneous combustion (technical/scientific use)

Collocations

  • Spontaneous + noun: spontaneous smile, spontaneous applause, spontaneous trip
  • Verb + spontaneous: seem spontaneous, appear spontaneous, feel spontaneous
  • Adverb + spontaneous: completely spontaneous, truly spontaneous

Examples

  1. She gave a spontaneous smile when she saw her old friend.
  2. We decided to take a spontaneous trip to the beach.
  3. His spontaneous reaction showed his true feelings.
  4. The audience broke into spontaneous applause after the performance.
  5. They often enjoy being spontaneous instead of making strict plans.
  6. The teacher praised his spontaneous answer in class.
  7. Their spontaneous laughter filled the room with joy.
  • Unplanned
  • Instinctive
  • Natural
  • Impulsive
  • Unpremeditated

Antonym

  • Planned
  • Deliberate
  • Calculated
  • Prearranged