Spontaneous Definition – Meaning and Usage In A Sentence

Have you ever heard someone misuse a particular word, and you are left scratching your head in disbelief? Perhaps, they used the word “spontaneous,” and you know very well that’s not what that word means. Misuse of the word spontaneous happens much more than you think because not everybody knows the correct spontaneous definition, meaning, and usage in different contexts.

Spontaneous defines something that happens without any prior plan or thought. Use it in sentences to describe actions not arranged and only occur because someone instantly wants to perform them. Other words describing “spontaneous” are unpremeditated, unplanned, casual, intuitive, and impulsive.

Do you want to use this word but are not sure whether you’ll use it correctly? Don’t worry; we’re here to help. In this article, we learn the definitions of the word spontaneous, its meaning, how to pronounce it correctly, and different scenarios on the word usage. Let’s dive in!

What Is the Definition of Spontaneous?

Spontaneous refers to something done or said suddenly or naturally without little to no thought or plan. It describes an action that happens instinctively or impromptu. When you are described as spontaneous, you do things suddenly or without any external influence.

For instance, your friend may tell you to be more spontaneous. They mean that they would like to see you do things on the spur of the moment instead of following a laid-out plan. It is important to note that when the term spontaneous is used to describe a character, it’s usually positive and amusing.

Spontaneous is also used to describe something that occurs naturally. This means that such actions happen from natural tendency devoid of external coercion. For instance, when a plant sprouts from the ground without any help, we can classify that as a spontaneous action.

What Is the Meaning of Spontaneous?

Besides being defined as something happening without planning, spontaneous means someone’s fun character that is naturally friendly or lively without caring about what they say or do.

The word also defines someone who acts on instant impulses. We can spontaneously describe an action that is voluntary or that happens casually. For example, “I had spontaneous breath the moment police approached our car.”

Did you know that “spontaneous” is commonly used to describe people’s qualities or actions? For instance, you can say, “Derrick isn’t a spontaneous person.” That means he follows a plan instead of doing things on impulse.

Different Word Versions of Spontaneous

There are different versions of spontaneous; a noun, an adverb, and an adjective. This section will look at the various versions of the word spontaneous and how we can use them in our day-to-day conversations. Here we go!

1. Spontaneous: The most commonly used version is spontaneous, an adjective. The term describes a naturally occurring phenomenon that grows or arises without external help.
2. Spontaneousness: The noun version of spontaneous. It refers to the quality of being spontaneous or arising naturally. We can also use naturalness or spontaneity in place of spontaneousness.
3. Spontaneously: Another version of spontaneous is spontaneously. It’s an adverb. It refers to any action happening automatically or without premeditation. Despite the similarities of spontaneousness and spontaneously, the former describes a state of spontaneity. Whereas the latter refers to how involuntarily an action is being done.

How to Use Spontaneous in a Sentence?

We can use the word spontaneous in different contexts to mean instant, whether voluntary or involuntary. Using the term in various sentences brings out the word’s other meanings. 

Before looking at how to use the word spontaneous in different contexts, here are some examples of using the word in sentences.

• Sometimes it’s wise to let things happen spontaneously instead of forcing them.
• Some diseases are not caused by external factors but arise spontaneously.
• Sandra’s bubbly personality and spontaneous nature make her such a delight to be around.
• It may not always be, but spontaneous activities are more fun than planned ones.
• Tommy’s new girlfriend is far more spontaneous than the last one.
• LeBron’s game-winning shot resulted in the spontaneous clapping and cheering from the Lakers fans.
• The farmer has been puzzled by the spontaneous growth of weed in different parts of his ranch.

Spontaneous Used in Different Contexts

Spontaneous is commonly used to describe an action occurring on a whim or suddenly. We mostly describe a person’s character using this term when it is impulsive or unconstrained. For instance, we can say, ‘The group resulted in spontaneous murmuring.’ To describe the sudden action the group undertook.

We can also use ‘spontaneous’ to describe a natural phenomenon from internal influences or without external coercion. Such actions can also be characterized as self-acting. An example of natural, spontaneous action is a volcano eruption or a tornado, as they happen without any external help.

We can use ‘spontaneously’ to illustrate growth without cultivation or assistance in nature or agriculture. Also, use the term to describe something produced by natural processes. For instance, some weeds grow spontaneously on-road cracks or in very harsh conditions.

In science, we use ‘spontaneously’ to explain chemical or biological actions and reactions that suddenly occur but in a natural or chemical process. An example of such is the spontaneous blinking of the eyes.

Is Spontaneous the Same as Random?

Spontaneous and random may look like synonyms at face value, but these words have different meanings. While spontaneous refers to an unplanned, impulsive, or voluntary action, random refers to an activity that happens without any specific purpose or pattern. Random also means something made or constructed without any regularity.

Spontaneous is an action that happens without prior planning and happens independently. Random, however, means an effort occurs at any time without following any pattern. For example, a person can break out in spontaneous laughter, but accidents randomly happen.

To avoid getting confused when using the word spontaneous for another like random, it’s a good idea to practice using the word in your daily conversations to get a firm grasp of it.

10 Examples of Spontaneous in a Sentence

After going through spontaneous’ various applications, we came up with ten sentences to help you understand further how to use ‘spontaneous’ correctly. These sentences illustrate using the word correctly in daily conversations in different versions. Here are the sentences below.

1. Richard’s most successful ideas are spontaneous.
2. Since moving into the new neighborhood, the couple has been spontaneous on dinner invitations.
3. Spontaneous combustion happens when something catches fire suddenly without an external heat source.
4. It is not hard to spontaneously come up with sentences that use the word spontaneous.
5. This kind of weed is easy to eliminate from the farm; however, its spontaneous growth hurts most.
6. Spontaneous vapor is produced when these two chemicals react with air in the presence of a catalyst.
7. Such conditions may occur in a spontaneous manner but result from asbestos exposure.
8. It’s hard to come up with spontaneous ideas in a meeting, but I’ll try it next week’s business trip.
9. The esophagus is a muscle in my body with spontaneous expansions and contractions.
10. The teacher told us to do spontaneous research on thermophilic ocean organisms and write a paper due in three days.

How Do You Spell Spontaneous?

The word spontaneous is an eleven-letter word that is spelled as – s-p-o-n-t-a-n-e-o-u-s.

According to the International Phonetic Alphabet (APA), the correct spelling of the term is /spɒnˈteɪ.ni.əs/.

How Do You Pronounce Spontaneous?

The American pronunciation of the word is \ spän-ˈtā-nē-əs \ (spaan-tay-nee-uhs) whereas the British pronunciation of spontaneous is /spɒnˈteɪniəs/ (spon-tay-nee-uhs).

The term spontaneous has two different pronunciations, the American and the British pronunciation. In both pronunciations, however, the ‘o’ is silent.

Spontaneous Synonym

• Unplanned
• Casual
• Instinctive

Spontaneous Antonym

• Planned
• Premeditated
• Deliberate

How Many Syllables Are In Spontaneous?

Spontaneous has four syllables: spon-ta-ne-ous.

History & Etymology of Spontaneous

The history of the word spontaneous dates back to 1650.

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, spontaneous originates from the Late Latin word spontaneous, which means ‘willing of one’s own accord.’ The term also comes from “sponte,” meaning ‘of one’s free will, voluntarily or willingly.’ Simply, the word was first attested from mid-1600, coming from earlier Latin words “spons,” “sponte,” “spontaneus,” which later became spontaneous.

It is important to note that the meaning has remained the same despite the different versions of the word from Latin to English. However, the word spontaneous has morphed to define several things. You must have noticed this from the spontaneous definition and meaning explained earlier.

When was Spontaneous First Used?

Spontaneous first came into use between 1650 and 1660 and was first used as an adjective.

Conclusion

We hope that this article has been helpful in learning the word “spontaneous.” We trust that you can accurately define spontaneous, differentiate its various uses, and use it in your daily writing and conversations. If you’d like further information on the word or some clarification, consider learning more on spontaneous, its meaning, and everyday use. Lastly, keep practicing using the word as you talk or write to be fully conversant with the word.