# spontaneous

**Pronunciation:** /spɒnˈteɪniəs/ · spon-TAY-nee-us

**CEFR level:** B2

**Part of speech:** adjective

## Meaning

Performed or occurring as a result of a sudden inner impulse or inclination and without premeditation or external stimulus.

## Examples

- Their decision to elope was completely spontaneous, surprising all their friends and family.
- The audience burst into spontaneous applause after the stunning performance.
- He's known for his spontaneous acts of kindness, often helping strangers without a second thought.

## Synonyms

- impulsive — Acting quickly without thinking, often on a whim.
- unplanned — Simply not having been planned in advance.
- instinctive — Based on natural instinct rather than thought or training.
- unrehearsed — Not practiced or prepared beforehand, especially for a performance.

## Antonyms

- planned — Decided or arranged beforehand.
- deliberate — Done consciously and intentionally.
- premeditated — Thought out or planned beforehand, especially for a crime.

## Common patterns

- be spontaneous — To act without planning, often on impulse. — It's good to be spontaneous sometimes and just see where the day takes you.
- spontaneous decision — A decision made without prior thought or planning. — Buying the tickets was a spontaneous decision, but we had a great time.
- spontaneous applause — Applause that starts suddenly and without being organized. — The crowd erupted in spontaneous applause at the end of the concert.

## Collocations

- spontaneous combustion — The old rags soaked in oil were a fire hazard, risking spontaneous combustion.
- spontaneous generation — The theory of spontaneous generation was disproven by Pasteur's experiments.
- spontaneous reaction — In chemistry, a spontaneous reaction occurs without continuous external energy input.

Canonical URL: https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english/spontaneous

[Browse the English learner dictionary](https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english)