un|im|pressed /ʌ n I mpre st/ ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are unimpressed by something or someone, you do not think they are very good, clever, or useful. □ [+ by ] He was also very unimpressed by his teachers. □ [+ with ] Graham Fletcher was unimpressed with the idea of filling in a lengthy questionnaire.
un|im|pres|sive /ʌ n I mpre s I v/ ADJ If you describe someone or something as unimpressive , you mean they appear very ordinary, without any special or exciting qualities. □ The team have looked unimpressive over recent weeks. □ Rainey was an unimpressive, rather dull lecturer.
un|in|formed /ʌ n I nfɔː r md/ ADJ If you describe someone as uninformed , you mean that they have very little knowledge or information about a particular situation or subject. □ [+ about ] He could not complain that he was uninformed about the true nature of the regime. □ Cases of child abuse often go unreported or ignored by uninformed citizens.
un|in|hab|it|able /ʌ n I nhæ b I təb ə l/ ADJ If a place is uninhabitable , it is impossible for people to live there, for example because it is dangerous or unhealthy. □ As parts of the world become uninhabitable, millions of people will try to migrate. □ …a young couple turning an uninhabitable wreck into their first home.
un|in|hab|it|ed /ʌ n I nhæ b I t I d/ ADJ An uninhabited place is one where nobody lives. □ …an uninhabited island in the North Pacific. □ The area is largely uninhabited.
un|in|hib|it|ed /ʌ n I nh I b I t I d/ ADJ If you describe a person or their behaviour as uninhibited , you mean that they express their opinions and feelings openly, and behave as they want to, without worrying what other people think. □ …a commanding and uninhibited entertainer. □ The dancing is uninhibited and as frenzied as an aerobics class.
un|ini|ti|at|ed /ʌ n I n I ʃie I t I d/ N‑PLURAL You can refer to people who have no knowledge or experience of a particular subject or activity as the uninitiated . □ For the uninitiated, Western Swing is a fusion of jazz, rhythm & blues, rock & roll and country music. ● ADJ Uninitiated is also an adjective. □ [+ in ] For those uninitiated in scientific ocean drilling, the previous record was a little over 4 km.
un|in|jured /ʌ n I ndʒə r d/ ADJ [ADJ after v, v-link ADJ ] If someone is uninjured after an accident or attack, they are not hurt, even though you would expect them to be. □ A passenger in the van was uninjured in the accident.
un|in|spired /ʌ n I nspa I ə r d/ ADJ If you describe something or someone as uninspired , you are criticizing them because they do not seem to have any original or exciting qualities. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The script was singularly uninspired. □ Food in the dining car was adequate, if uninspired.
un|in|spir|ing /ʌ n I nspa I ə r I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe something or someone as uninspiring , you are criticizing them because they have no special or exciting qualities, and make you feel bored. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The series of speeches on the economy was uninspiring and a rehash of old subjects. □ The house had a tiny kitchen with an uninspiring view.
un|in|stall /ʌn I nstɔ ːl/ (uninstalls , uninstalling , uninstalled ) VERB If you uninstall a computer program, you remove it permanently from your computer. [COMPUTING ] □ [V n] If you don't like the program, just uninstall it and forget it.
un|in|tel|li|gent /ʌ n I nte l I dʒ ə nt/ ADJ If you describe a person as unintelligent , you mean that they are stupid, or do not show any sensible ideas or thoughts. □ He believes him to be a weak and unintelligent man. □ He certainly was not unintelligent.
un|in|tel|li|gible /ʌ n I nte l I dʒ I b ə l/ ADJ Unintelligible language is impossible to understand, for example because it is not written or pronounced clearly, or because its meaning is confused or complicated. □ He muttered something unintelligible. □ …the unintelligible phrases and images of his earlier poems.
un|in|tend|ed /ʌ n I nte nd I d/ ADJ Unintended results were not planned to happen, although they happened. □ …the unintended consequences of human action. □ …unintended pregnancies.
un|in|ten|tion|al /ʌ n I nte nʃən ə l/ ADJ Something that is unintentional is not done deliberately, but happens by accident. □ Perhaps he had slightly misled them, but it was quite unintentional. □ There are moments of unintentional humour. ● un|in|ten|tion|al|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] □ …an overblown and unintentionally funny adaptation of 'Dracula'. □ I unintentionally hurt some wonderful people.
un|in|ter|est|ed /ʌ n I ntrəst I d, -tərestid/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are uninterested in something or someone, you do not want to know any more about them, because you think they have no special or exciting qualities. □ [+ in ] I was so uninterested in the result that I didn't even bother to look at it. □ …unhelpful and uninterested shop staff.
un|in|ter|est|ing /ʌ n I ntrəst I ŋ, -tərestiŋ/ ADJ If you describe something or someone as uninteresting , you mean they have no special or exciting qualities. □ Their media has earned the reputation for being rather dull and uninteresting.
un|in|ter|rupt|ed /ʌ n I ntərʌ pt I d/
1 ADJ [ADJ after v, v-link ADJ , ADJ n] If something is uninterrupted , it is continuous and has no breaks or interruptions in it. □ This enables the healing process to continue uninterrupted. □ …five years of rapid and uninterrupted growth.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An uninterrupted view of something is a clear view of it, without any obstacles in the way. □ Diners can enjoy an uninterrupted view of the garden.
un|in|vit|ed /ʌ n I nva I t I d/ ADJ [ADJ after v, v-link ADJ , ADJ n] If someone does something or goes somewhere uninvited , they do it or go there without being asked, often when their action or presence is not wanted. □ He came uninvited to one of Stein's parties. □ …a hundred invited guests and many more who were uninvited. □ …an uninvited question from a reporter.
un|ion ◆◆◆ /juː njən/ (unions )
1 N‑COUNT A union is a workers' organization which represents its members and which aims to improve things such as their working conditions and pay. □ I feel that women in all types of employment can benefit from joining a union. □ …union officials.
2 N‑UNCOUNT When the union of two or more things occurs, they are joined together and become one thing. □ [+ with ] Long before union with England, Scotland had a vibrant musical tradition. [Also + of ]
3 N‑SING When two or more things, for example countries or organizations, have been joined together to form one thing, you can refer to them as a union . □ [+ of ] …the union of African states. □ …the question of which countries should join the currency union.
4 N‑COUNT Union is used in the name of some clubs, societies, and organizations. □ The naming of stars is at the discretion of the International Astronomical Union. SYNONYMS union NOUN
2
unification: …the process of general European unification.
combination: …the combination of science and art.
integration: They see progress towards integration.
3
alliance: The two parties were still too much apart to form an alliance.
league: …the League of Nations.
association: …the Association of British Travel Agents.
coalition: Since June the country has had a coalition government.
un|ion|ism /juː njən I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Unionism is any set of political principles based on the idea that two or more political or national units should be joined or remain together, for example that Northern Ireland should remain part of the United Kingdom. ● un|ion|ist (unionists ) N‑COUNT □ …traditional unionists fearful of home rule.
un|ioni|za|tion /juː njəna I ze I ʃ ə n/ in BRIT, also use unionisation N‑UNCOUNT The unionization of workers or industries is the process of workers becoming members of trade unions. □ Increasing unionization led to demands for higher wages and shorter hours.
un|ion|ized /juː njəna I zd/ in BRIT, also use unionised ADJ Unionized workers belong to trade unions. If a company or place is unionized , most of the workers there belong to trade unions.
U n|ion Ja ck (Union Jacks ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] The Union Jack is the national flag of the United Kingdom. It consists of a blue background with red and white crosses on it.
u n|ion suit (union suits ) N‑COUNT A union suit is a piece of underwear, worn by men or boys, that covers the body and legs. [AM ]
unique ◆◇◇ /juːniː k/
1 ADJ Something that is unique is the only one of its kind. □ Each person's signature is unique. □ The area has its own unique language, Catalan. ● unique|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Because of the extreme cold, the Antarctic is a uniquely fragile environment. □ Uniquely among the great world religions, Buddhism is rooted only in the universal experience of suffering known to all human beings. ● unique|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] Each time I returned I was struck by the uniqueness of Australia and its people.
2 ADJ You can use unique to describe things that you admire because they are very unusual and special. [APPROVAL ] □ Brett's vocals are just unique. □ Kauffman was a woman of unique talent and determination. ● unique|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ …people who consider themselves uniquely qualified to be president of the United States.
3 ADJ If something is unique to one thing, person, group, or place, it concerns or belongs only to that thing, person, group, or place. □ [+ to ] No one knows for sure why adolescence is unique to humans. □ [+ to ] This interesting and charming creature is unique to Borneo. ● unique|ly ADV [ADV adj] □ The problem isn't uniquely American.
uni|sex /juː n I seks/ ADJ Unisex is used to describe things, usually clothes or places, which are designed for use by both men and women rather than by only one sex. □ …the classic unisex hair salon.
uni|son /juː n I sən, -zən/
1 PHRASE If two or more people do something in unison , they do it together at the same time. □ The students gave him a rapturous welcome, chanting in unison: 'We want the king!'. □ Michael and the landlady nodded in unison.
2 PHRASE If people or organizations act in unison , they act the same way because they agree with each other or because they want to achieve the same aims. □ The international community is ready to work in unison against him.
unit ◆◆◇ /juː n I t/ (units )
1 N‑COUNT If you consider something as a unit , you consider it as a single, complete thing. □ Agriculture was based in the past on the family as a unit.
2 N‑COUNT A unit is a group of people who work together at a specific job, often in a particular place. □ …the health services research unit.
3 N‑COUNT A unit is a group within an armed force or police force, whose members fight or work together or carry out a particular task. □ One secret military unit tried to contaminate the drinking water of the refugees. □ Two small Marine units are trapped inside the city.
4 N‑COUNT A unit is a small machine which has a particular function, often part of a larger machine. □ The unit plugs into any TV set.
5 N‑COUNT A unit of measurement is a fixed standard quantity, length, or weight that is used for measuring things. The litre, the centimetre, and the ounce are all units.
6 N‑COUNT A unit is one of the parts that a textbook is divided into.
uni|tary /juː n I tri, [AM ] -teri/ ADJ [ADJ n] A unitary country or organization is one in which two or more areas or groups have joined together, have the same aims, and are controlled by a single government. □ …a call for the creation of a single unitary state.
u nit co st (unit costs ) N‑COUNT The unit cost is the amount of money that it costs a company to produce one article. [BUSINESS ] □ They aim to reduce unit costs through extra sales.
unite ◆◇◇ /juːna I t/ (unites , uniting , united ) VERB If a group of people or things unite or if something unites them, they join together and act as a group. □ [V ] The two parties have been trying to unite since the New Year. □ [V n] The vast majority of nations have agreed to unite their efforts to bring peace.
unit|ed ◆◇◇ /juːna I t I d/
1 ADJ When people are united about something, they agree about it and act together. □ [+ on ] Every party is united on the need for parliamentary democracy. □ A united effort is always more effective than an isolated complaint.
2 ADJ United is used to describe a country which has been formed from two or more states or countries. □ …Bismarck, the first Chancellor of a united Germany.
3 ADJ [ADJ n, in names] United is used in the names of countries which are made up from several states or smaller countries. □ …the United States of America.
Uni t|ed Ki ng|dom ◆◇◇ N‑PROPER The United Kingdom is the official name for the country consisting of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Uni t|ed Na |tions ◆◆◇ N‑PROPER The United Nations is an organization which most countries belong to. Its role is to encourage international peace, co-operation, and friendship.
u nit sa les N‑PLURAL Unit sales refers to the number of individual items that a company sells. [BUSINESS ] □ Unit sales of T-shirts increased 6%.
u nit tru st (unit trusts ) N‑COUNT A unit trust is an organization which invests money in many different types of business and which offers units for sale to the public as an investment. You can also refer to an investment of this type as a unit trust . [BRIT , BUSINESS ] in AM, use mutual fund
unity ◆◇◇ /juː n I ti/
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft adj N ] Unity is the state of different areas or groups being joined together to form a single country or organization. □ There is support for economic unity in trade and industry to promote growth and prosperity. □ …German unity.
2 N‑UNCOUNT When there is unity , people are in agreement and act together for a particular purpose. □ [+ of ] …a renewed unity of purpose. □ Speakers at the rally mouthed sentiments of unity. □ The choice was meant to create an impression of party unity.
Univ also Univ. Univ is a written abbreviation for university which is used especially in the names of universities. □ …the Wharton School, Univ. of Pennsylvania.
uni|ver|sal /juː n I vɜː r s ə l/ (universals )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is universal relates to everyone in the world or everyone in a particular group or society. □ The insurance industry has produced its own proposals for universal health care. □ The desire to look attractive is universal. ● uni|ver|sal|ity /juː n I vɜː r sæ l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] I have been amazed at the universality of our experiences, whatever our sex or age.
2 ADJ Something that is universal affects or relates to every part of the world or the universe. □ …universal diseases.
3 N‑COUNT A universal is a principle that applies in all cases or a characteristic that is present in all members of a particular class. □ There are no economic universals.
u ni|ve r|sal ba nk (universal banks ) N‑COUNT A universal bank is a bank that offers both banking and stockbroking services to its clients. [BUSINESS ] □ …universal banks offering a wide range of services.
uni|ver|sal|ly /juː n I vɜː r səli/
1 ADV [usu ADV -ed/adj] If something is universally believed or accepted, it is believed or accepted by everyone with no disagreement. □ …a universally accepted point of view. □ The scale of the problem is now universally recognised.
2 ADV [usu ADV adj, oft ADV with v] If something is universally true or available, it is true or available everywhere in the world or in all situations. □ The disadvantage is that it is not universally available.
uni|verse ◆◇◇ /juː n I vɜː r s/ (universes )
1 N‑COUNT The universe is the whole of space and all the stars, planets, and other forms of matter and energy in it. □ Early astronomers thought that our planet was the centre of the universe.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing, oft with poss] If you talk about someone's universe , you are referring to the whole of their experience or an important part of it. □ Good writers suck in what they see of the world, re-creating their own universe on the page.
uni|ver|sity ◆◆◆ /juː n I vɜː r s I ti/ (universities ) N‑VAR ; N‑COUNT A university is an institution where students study for degrees and where academic research is done. □ Patrick is now at London University. □ They want their daughter to go to university, but they are also keen that she get a summer job. □ The university refused to let the controversial politician speak on campus.
un|just /ʌ ndʒʌ st/ ADJ If you describe an action, system, or law as unjust , you think that it treats a person or group badly in a way that they do not deserve. □ The attack on Charles was deeply unjust. □ He spent 25 years campaigning against racist and unjust immigration laws. ● un|just|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ She was unjustly accused of stealing money and then given the sack.
un|jus|ti|fi|able /ʌ ndʒʌst I fa I əb ə l, ʌndʒʌ st I fa I əb ə l/ ADJ If you describe an action, especially one that harms someone, as unjustifiable , you mean there is no good reason for it. □ Using these missiles to down civilian aircraft is simply immoral and totally unjustifiable. ● un|jus|ti|fi|ably ADV □ The press invade people's privacy unfairly and unjustifiably every day.
un|jus|ti|fied /ʌ ndʒʌ st I fa I d/ ADJ If you describe a belief or action as unjustified , you think that there is no good reason for having it or doing it. □ Your report was based upon wholly unfounded and totally unjustified allegations. □ The commission concluded that the police action was unjustified.
un|kempt /ʌ nke mpt/ ADJ If you describe something or someone as unkempt , you mean that they are untidy, and not looked after carefully or kept neat. □ His hair was unkempt and filthy. □ …the unkempt grass. □ …an unkempt old man.
un|kind /ʌnka I nd/ (unkinder , unkindest )
1 ADJ If someone is unkind , they behave in an unpleasant, unfriendly, or slightly cruel way. You can also describe someone's words or actions as unkind . □ [+ to ] All last summer he'd been unkind to her. □ No one has an unkind word to say about him. □ Without wishing to be unkind, she's not the most interesting company. ● un|kind|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Several viewers commented unkindly on her dress sense. □ 'He's a bit of an eccentric old fatty,' Thomas thought, unkindly. ● un|kind|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] He realized the unkindness of the remark and immediately regretted having hurt her with it.
2 ADJ If you describe something bad that happens to someone as unkind , you mean that they do not deserve it. [WRITTEN ] □ [+ to ] The weather was unkind to those pipers who played in the morning. □ …a shared conviction that some unkind fate or chance is keeping them apart.
un|know|able /ʌ nnoʊ əb ə l/ ADJ If you describe something as unknowable , you mean that it is impossible for human beings to know anything about it. [WRITTEN ] □ Any investment in shares is a bet on an unknowable future flow of profits. □ The specific impact of the greenhouse effect is unknowable.
un|know|ing /ʌ nnoʊ I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a person as unknowing , you mean that they are not aware of what is happening or of what they are doing. □ Some governments have been victims and perhaps unknowing accomplices in the bank's activities.
un|know|ing|ly /ʌ nnoʊ I ŋli/ ADV [ADV with v] If someone does something unknowingly , they do it without being aware of it. □ …if people unknowingly move into more contaminated areas of the river. □ You may be contributing unknowingly to the suffering of animals.
un|known ◆◇◇ /ʌ nnoʊ n/ (unknowns )
1 ADJ If something is unknown to you, you have no knowledge of it. □ An unknown number of demonstrators were arrested. □ How did you expect us to proceed on such a perilous expedition, through unknown terrain? □ The motive for the killing is unknown. ● N‑COUNT An unknown is something that is unknown. □ The length of the war is one of the biggest unknowns.
2 ADJ An unknown person is someone whose name you do not know or whose character you do not know anything about. □ Unknown thieves had forced their way into the apartment. □ [+ to ] I could not understand how someone with so many awards could be unknown to me.
3 ADJ An unknown person is not famous or publicly recognized. □ He was an unknown writer. □ …a popular environment where both established and unknown artists can meet, talk and drink. ● N‑COUNT An unknown is a person who is unknown. □ How had he, a complete unknown, achieved this transformation?
4 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say that a particular problem or situation is unknown , you mean that it never occurs. □ Diabetes is virtually unknown in poorer countries.
5 N‑SING The unknown refers generally to things or places that people do not know about or understand. □ Ignorance of people brings fear, fear of the unknown.
un|law|ful /ʌ nlɔː fʊl/ ADJ If something is unlawful , the law does not allow you to do it. [FORMAL ] □ …employees who believe their dismissal was unlawful. □ A pushed-in window indicated unlawful entry. ● un|law|ful|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ …the councils' assertion that the government acted unlawfully in imposing the restrictions.
u n|law|ful ki ll|ing (unlawful killings ) N‑VAR Unlawful killing is used to refer to crimes which involve one person killing another. [LEGAL ]
un|lead|ed /ʌ nle d I d/ ADJ Unleaded fuel contains a smaller amount of lead than most fuels so that it produces fewer harmful substances when it is burned. □ This model is designed to run on unleaded fuel. ● N‑UNCOUNT Unleaded is also a noun. □ All its engines will run happily on unleaded.
un|learn /ʌ nlɜː r n/ (unlearns , unlearning , unlearned ) in BRIT, also use unlearnt VERB If you unlearn something that you have learned, you try to forget it or ignore it, often because it is wrong or it is having a bad influence on you. □ [V n] They learn new roles and unlearn old ones. □ [V n] Before you know it, you will have unlearned the debt habit.
un|leash /ʌ nliː ʃ/ (unleashes , unleashing , unleashed ) VERB If you say that someone or something unleashes a powerful force, feeling, activity, or group, you mean that they suddenly start it or send it somewhere. □ [V n] Then he unleashed his own, unstoppable, attack. □ [V n] The officers were still reluctant to unleash their troops in pursuit of a defeated enemy.
un|leav|ened /ʌ nle v ə nd/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Unleavened bread or dough is made without any yeast.
un|less ◆◆◇ /ʌnle s/ CONJ You use unless to introduce the only circumstances in which an event you are mentioning will not take place or in which a statement you are making is not true. □ Unless you are trying to lose weight to please yourself, it's hard to stay motivated. □ We cannot understand disease unless we understand the person who has the disease.
un|like ◆◇◇ /ʌ nla I k/
1 PREP If one thing is unlike another thing, the two things have different qualities or characteristics from each other. □ This was a foreign country, so unlike San Jose. □ She was unlike him in every way except for her coal black eyes.
2 PREP You can use unlike to contrast two people, things, or situations, and show how they are different. □ Unlike aerobics, walking entails no expensive fees for classes or clubs.
3 PREP If you describe something that a particular person has done as being unlike them, you mean that you are surprised by it because it is not typical of their character or normal behaviour. □ It was so unlike him to say something like that, with such intensity, that I was astonished. □ 'We'll all be arrested!' Thomas yelled, which was most unlike him.
un|like|ly ◆◆◇ /ʌnla I kli/ (unlikelier , unlikeliest ) ADJ [usu v-link ADJ , oft ADJ to-inf] If you say that something is unlikely to happen or unlikely to be true, you believe that it will not happen or that it is not true, although you are not completely sure. □ A military coup seems unlikely. □ As with many technological revolutions, you are unlikely to be aware of it. □ It's now unlikely that future parliaments will bring back the death penalty. □ In the unlikely event of anybody phoning, could you just scribble a message down?
un|lim|it|ed /ʌnl I m I t I d/ ADJ If there is an unlimited quantity of something, you can have as much or as many of that thing as you want. □ An unlimited number of copies can still be made from the original. □ You'll also have unlimited access to the swimming pool.
un|list|ed /ʌ nl I st I d/
1 ADJ If a person or their phone number is unlisted , the number is not listed in the phone book, and the phone company will refuse to give it to people who ask for it. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, usually use ex-directory 2 ADJ An unlisted company or unlisted stock is not listed officially on a stock exchange. [BUSINESS ] □ Its shares are traded on the Unlisted Securities Market.
un|lis|ten|able /ʌ nl I s ə nəb ə l/ ADJ If you describe music as unlistenable , you mean that is very poor in quality. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The early stuff is mostly unlistenable.
un|lit /ʌ nl I t/
1 ADJ An unlit fire or cigarette has not been made to start burning.
2 ADJ An unlit street or building is dark because there are no lights switched on in it.
un|load /ʌ nloʊ d/ (unloads , unloading , unloaded )
1 VERB If you unload goods from a vehicle, or you unload a vehicle, you remove the goods from the vehicle, usually after they have been transported from one place to another. □ [V n + from ] Unload everything from the boat and clean it thoroughly. □ [V n] They were reported to be unloading trucks filled with looted furniture.
2 VERB If someone unloads investments, they get rid of them or sell them. [BUSINESS ] □ [V n] Since March, he has unloaded 1.3 million shares.
un|lock /ʌ nlɒ k/ (unlocks , unlocking , unlocked )
1 VERB If you unlock something such as a door, a room, or a container that has a lock, you open it using a key. □ [V n] He unlocked the car and threw the coat on to the back seat.
2 VERB If you unlock the potential or the secrets of something or someone, you release them. □ [V n] Education and training is the key that will unlock our nation's potential.
un|lov|able /ʌ nlʌ vəb ə l/ ADJ If someone is unlovable , they are not likely to be loved by anyone, because they do not have any attractive qualities.
un|loved /ʌ nlʌ vd/ ADJ If someone feels unloved , they feel that nobody loves them. □ I think she feels desperately wounded and unloved at the moment. □ …a lonely, unloved child.
un|love|ly /ʌ nlʌ vli/ ADJ If you describe something as unlovely , you mean that it is unattractive or unpleasant in some way. [WRITTEN ] □ She found a small, inexpensive motel on the outskirts of the town; it was barren and unlovely.
un|lov|ing /ʌ nlʌ v I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe a person as unloving , you believe that they do not love, or show love to, the people they ought to love. □ The overworked, overextended parent may be seen as unloving, but may simply be exhausted.
un|lucki|ly /ʌnlʌ k I li/ ADV [ADV with v] You use unluckily as a comment on something bad or unpleasant that happens to someone, in order to suggest sympathy for them or that it was not their fault. □ [+ for ] Unluckily for him, the fraud officers were watching this flight too.
un|lucky /ʌnlʌ ki/ (unluckier , unluckiest )
1 ADJ [oft ADJ to-inf] If someone is unlucky , they have bad luck. □ Owen was unlucky not to score on two occasions. □ Others were unlucky victims of falling debris.
2 ADJ You can use unlucky to describe unpleasant things which happen to someone, especially when you feel that the person does not deserve them. □ …our team's unlucky defeat by the Rovers.
3 ADJ Unlucky is used to describe something that is thought to cause bad luck. □ Some people think it is unlucky to look at a new moon through glass.
un|made /ʌ nme I d/ ADJ An unmade bed has not had the sheets and covers neatly arranged after it was last slept in.
un|man|age|able /ʌnmæ n I dʒəb ə l/
1 ADJ If you describe something as unmanageable , you mean that it is difficult to use, deal with, or control. □ People were visiting the house every day, sometimes in unmanageable numbers. □ …her freckles and unmanageable hair.
2 ADJ If you describe someone, especially a young person, as unmanageable , you mean that they behave in an unacceptable way and are difficult to control. □ The signs are that indulged children tend to become unmanageable when they reach their teens.
un|man|ly /ʌ nmæ nli/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you describe a boy's or man's behaviour as unmanly , you are critical of the fact that they are behaving in a way that you think is inappropriate for a man. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Your partner can feel the loss as acutely as you, but may feel that it is unmanly to cry.
un|manned /ʌ nmæ nd/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Unmanned vehicles such as spacecraft do not have any people in them and operate automatically or are controlled from a distance. □ …a special unmanned spacecraft. □ …unmanned rockets.
2 ADJ If a place is unmanned , there is nobody working there. □ Unmanned post offices meant millions of letters went unsorted.
un|marked /ʌ nmɑː r kt/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Something that is unmarked has no marks on it. □ Her shoes are still white and unmarked.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is unmarked has no marking on it which identifies what it is or whose it is. □ He had seen them come out and get into the unmarked police car. □ He lies in an unmarked grave at Elmton.
3 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ , oft ADJ after v] In a sport such as football, hockey, or basketball, if a player is unmarked , there are no players from the opposing team who are watching them in order to challenge them when they have control of the ball. [BRIT ] □ The striker was unmarked when he headed his second goal.
un|mar|ried /ʌ nmæ rid/ ADJ Someone who is unmarried is not married. □ They refused to rent an apartment to an unmarried couple.
un|mask /ʌ nmɑː sk, -mæ sk/ (unmasks , unmasking , unmasked ) VERB If you unmask someone or something bad, you show or make known their true nature or character, when they had previously been thought to be good. □ [V n] Elliott unmasked and confronted the master spy.
un|matched /ʌ nmæ tʃt/ ADJ If you describe something as unmatched , you are emphasizing that it is better or greater than all other things of the same kind. [EMPHASIS ] □ …a landscape of unmatched beauty. □ [+ for ] Brian's old-fashioned cuisine was unmatched for flavour.
un|men|tion|able /ʌnme nʃənəb ə l/ ADJ If you describe something as unmentionable , you mean that it is too embarrassing or unpleasant to talk about. □ Has he got some unmentionable disease?
un|mer|ci|ful|ly /ʌnmɜː r s I fʊli/ ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] If you do something unmercifully , you do it a lot, showing no pity. □ Uncle Sebastian used to tease Mother and Daddy unmercifully that all they could produce was girls.
un|met /ʌnme t/ ADJ [ADJ n, v-link ADJ , ADJ after v] Unmet needs or demands are not satisfied. □ …the unmet demand for quality family planning services. □ This need routinely goes unmet.
un|me|tered /ʌnmi ːtə r d/ ADJ An unmetered service for something such as water supply or telephone access is one that allows you to use as much as you want for a basic cost, rather than paying for the amount you use. □ Clients are not charged by the minute but given unmetered access to the internet for a fixed fee.
un|miss|able /ʌ nm I səb ə l/ ADJ If you say that something such as an event or a film is unmissable , you are emphasizing that it is so good that everyone should try to go to it or see it. [BRIT , INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ His new show is unmissable.
un|mis|tak|able /ʌ nm I ste I kəb ə l/ also unmistakeable ADJ If you describe something as unmistakable , you mean that it is so obvious that it cannot be mistaken for anything else. □ He didn't give his name, but the voice was unmistakable. □ …the unmistakable smell of marijuana drifted down. ● un|mis|tak|ably /ʌ nm I ste I kəbli/ ADV [usu ADV group, oft ADV with v] □ It's still unmistakably a Minnelli movie. □ She's unmistakably Scandinavian.
un|miti|gat|ed /ʌnm I t I ge I t I d/ ADJ [ADJ n] You use unmitigated to emphasize that a bad situation or quality is totally bad. [EMPHASIS ] □ Last year's cotton crop was an unmitigated disaster. □ She leads a life of unmitigated misery.
un|mo|lest|ed /ʌ nməle st I d/ ADJ [usu ADJ after v, oft v-link ADJ , ADJ n] If someone does something unmolested , they do it without being stopped or interfered with. □ Like many fugitives, he lived unmolested for many years. □ We now have a community where kids and adults can go to the park unmolested.
un|moved /ʌ nmuː vd/ ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are unmoved by something, you are not emotionally affected by it. □ Mr Bird remained unmoved by the corruption allegations. □ His face was unmoved, but on his lips there was a trace of displeasure.
un|mu|si|cal /ʌ nmjuː z I k ə l/
1 ADJ An unmusical sound is unpleasant to listen to. □ Lainey had a terrible voice, unmusical and sharp.
2 ADJ An unmusical person cannot play or appreciate music. □ They're completely unmusical.
un|named /ʌ nne I md/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Unnamed people or things are talked about but their names are not mentioned. □ An unnamed man collapsed and died while he was walking near Dundonald. □ The cash comes from an unnamed source.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Unnamed things have not been given a name. □ …unnamed comets and asteroids.
un|natu|ral /ʌnnæ tʃər ə l/
1 ADJ If you describe something as unnatural , you mean that it is strange and often frightening, because it is different from what you normally expect. □ The aircraft rose with unnatural speed on take-off. □ The altered landscape looks unnatural and weird. ● un|natu|ral|ly ADV [ADV adj] □ The house was unnaturally silent. □ …unnaturally cold conditions.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Behaviour that is unnatural seems artificial and not normal or genuine. □ She gave him a bright, determined smile which seemed unnatural. ● un|natu|ral|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Try to avoid shouting or speaking unnaturally.
un|natu|ral|ly /ʌnnæ tʃərəli/
1 PHRASE You can use not unnaturally to indicate that the situation you are describing is exactly as you would expect in the circumstances. □ It was a question that Roy not unnaturally found impossible to answer.
2 → see also unnatural
un|nec|es|sary /ʌnne səsri, [AM ] -seri/ ADJ If you describe something as unnecessary , you mean that it is not needed or does not have to be done, and is undesirable. □ The slaughter of whales is unnecessary and inhuman. □ He accused Diana of making an unnecessary fuss. ● un|nec|es|sari|ly /ʌ nnesəse r I li/ ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ I didn't want to upset my daughter unnecessarily. □ A bad keyboard can make life unnecessarily difficult.
un|nerve /ʌ nnɜː r v/ (unnerves , unnerving , unnerved ) VERB If you say that something unnerves you, you mean that it worries or troubles you. □ [V n] The news about Dermot had unnerved me.
un|nerv|ing /ʌ nnɜː r v I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe something as unnerving , you mean that it makes you feel worried or uncomfortable. □ It must have been unnerving to see money disappearing from your account.
un|no|ticed /ʌ nnoʊ t I st/ ADJ [usu ADJ after v, oft v-link ADJ , ADJ n] If something happens or passes unnoticed , it is not seen or noticed by anyone. □ I tried to slip up the stairs unnoticed. □ [+ by ] Her forty-fourth birthday had just passed, unnoticed by all but herself.
un|ob|served /ʌ nəbzɜː r vd/ ADJ [v-link ADJ , ADJ after v, ADJ n] If you do something unobserved , you do it without being seen by other people. □ Looking round to make sure he was unobserved, he slipped through the door. □ John had been sitting, unobserved, in the darkness.
un|ob|tain|able /ʌ nəbte I nəb ə l/ ADJ If something or someone is unobtainable , you cannot get them. □ Fish was unobtainable in certain sections of Tokyo.
un|ob|tru|sive /ʌ nəbtruː s I v/ ADJ If you describe something or someone as unobtrusive , you mean that they are not easily noticed or do not draw attention to themselves. [FORMAL ] □ The coffee table is glass, to be as unobtrusive as possible. ● un|ob|tru|sive|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ They slipped away unobtrusively.
un|oc|cu|pied /ʌ nɒ kjʊpa I d/ ADJ [v-link ADJ , ADJ n, ADJ after v] If a building is unoccupied , there is nobody in it. □ The house was unoccupied at the time of the explosion. □ The fire broke out in two unoccupied cabins.
un|of|fi|cial /ʌ nəf I ʃ ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] An unofficial action or statement is not organized or approved by a person or group in authority. □ Staff voted to continue an unofficial strike. □ Official reports put the death toll at under one hundred. ● un|of|fi|cial|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ Some workers are legally employed, but the majority work unofficially.
un|opened /ʌ noʊ pənd/ ADJ [ADJ n, v-link ADJ , ADJ after v] If something is unopened , it has not been opened yet. □ …unopened bottles of olive oil. □ The letter lay unopened in the travel firm's pigeonhole. □ Catherine put all the envelopes aside unopened.
un|op|posed /ʌ nəpoʊ zd/ ADJ [usu ADJ after v, oft v-link ADJ , ADJ n] In something such as an election or a war, if someone is unopposed , there are no opponents competing or fighting against them. □ The council re-elected him unopposed as party leader.
un|ortho|dox /ʌ nɔː r θədɒks/
1 ADJ If you describe someone's behaviour, beliefs, or customs as unorthodox , you mean that they are different from what is generally accepted. □ She spent an unorthodox girlhood travelling with her father throughout Europe. □ His methods were unorthodox, and his lifestyle eccentric.
2 ADJ If you describe ways of doing things as unorthodox , you are criticizing them because they are unusual or illegal. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Journalists appear to have obtained confidential documents in an unorthodox manner.
un|pack /ʌ npæ k/ (unpacks , unpacking , unpacked )
1 VERB When you unpack a suitcase, box, or similar container, or you unpack the things inside it, you take the things out of the container. □ [V n] He unpacked his bag. [Also V ]
2 VERB If you unpack an idea or problem, you analyse it and consider it in detail. □ [V n] Let's unpack this model a bit more and see just how "illogical" it really is.
un|paid /ʌ npe I d/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] If you do unpaid work or are an unpaid worker, you do a job without receiving any money for it. □ Even unpaid work for charity is better than nothing. □ The unpaid volunteers do the work because they love it.
2 ADJ Unpaid taxes or bills, for example, are bills or taxes which have not been paid yet. □ The taxman caught up with him and demanded £17,000 in unpaid taxes. □ The bills remained unpaid because of a dispute over the quality of the company's work.
un|pal|at|able /ʌnpæ l I təb ə l/
1 ADJ If you describe an idea as unpalatable , you mean that you find it unpleasant and difficult to accept. □ It is an unpalatable fact that rape makes a good news story. □ It was only then that I began to learn the unpalatable truth about John.
2 ADJ If you describe food as unpalatable , you mean that it is so unpleasant that you can hardly eat it. □ …a lump of dry, unpalatable cheese.
un|par|al|leled /ʌnpæ rəleld/ ADJ If you describe something as unparalleled , you are emphasizing that it is, for example, bigger, better, or worse than anything else of its kind, or anything that has happened before. [EMPHASIS ] □ Germany's unparalleled prosperity is based on wise investments. □ [+ since ] The country is facing a crisis unparalleled since the Second World War. [Also + in ]
un|par|don|able /ʌnpɑː r dənəb ə l/ ADJ If you say that someone's behaviour is unpardonable , you mean that it is very wrong or offensive, and completely unacceptable. □ …an unpardonable lack of discipline. □ I must ask a question you may find unpardonable.
un|pick /ʌ np I k/ (unpicks , unpicking , unpicked )
1 VERB If you unpick a piece of sewing, you remove the stitches from it. □ [V n] You can always unpick the hems on the dungarees if you don't like them.
2 VERB If someone unpicks a plan or policy, they disagree with it and examine it thoroughly in order to find any mistakes that they can use to defeat it. [BRIT ] □ [V n] A statesman wants to unpick last year's reform of Europe's common agricultural policy.
un|play|able /ʌ nple I əb ə l/ ADJ In some sports, if you describe a player as unplayable , you mean that they are playing extremely well and are difficult to beat. If you describe a ball as unplayable , you mean that it is difficult to hit. [BRIT ]
un|pleas|ant /ʌnple z ə nt/
1 ADJ If something is unpleasant , it gives you bad feelings, for example by making you feel upset or uncomfortable. □ The symptoms can be uncomfortable, unpleasant and serious. □ The vacuum has an unpleasant smell. □ It was a very unpleasant and frightening attack. ● un|pleas|ant|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] □ The water moved darkly around the body, unpleasantly thick and brown. □ The smell was unpleasantly strong. □ My heart was hammering unpleasantly.
2 ADJ An unpleasant person is very unfriendly and rude. □ She thought him an unpleasant man. □ Don't start giving me problems otherwise I'll have to be very unpleasant indeed. □ …a thoroughly unpleasant person. ● un|pleas|ant|ly ADV □ Melissa laughed unpleasantly. □ The Heidlers are an unpleasantly hypocritical pair. ● un|pleas|ant|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ There had to be a reason for the unpleasantness some people habitually displayed.
un|plug /ʌ nplʌ g/ (unplugs , unplugging , unplugged ) VERB If you unplug an electrical device or phone, you pull a wire out of a socket so that it stops working. □ [V n] I had to unplug the phone.
un|plugged /ʌ nplʌ gd/ ADJ [ADJ after v, ADJ n] If a pop group or musician performs unplugged , they perform without any electric instruments. [JOURNALISM ] □ Do you remember when everyone went unplugged and acoustic?
un|pol|lut|ed /ʌ npəluː t I d/ ADJ Something that is unpolluted is free from pollution.
un|popu|lar /ʌ npɒ pjʊlə r / ADJ If something or someone is unpopular , most people do not like them. □ It was a painful and unpopular decision. □ In high school, I was very unpopular, and I did encounter a little prejudice. □ [+ with ] The Chancellor is deeply unpopular with voters. ● un|popu|lar|ity /ʌ npɒpjʊlæ r I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] □ [+ among ] …his unpopularity among his colleagues.
un|prec|edent|ed /ʌnpre s I dent I d/
1 ADJ If something is unprecedented , it has never happened before. □ Such a move is rare, but not unprecedented. □ In 1987 the Socialists took the unprecedented step of appointing a civilian to command the force.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as unprecedented , you are emphasizing that it is very great in quality, amount, or scale. [EMPHASIS ] □ Each home boasts an unprecedented level of quality throughout. □ The scheme has been hailed as an unprecedented success.
un|pre|dict|able /ʌ npr I d I ktəb ə l/ ADJ If you describe someone or something as unpredictable , you mean that you cannot tell what they are going to do or how they are going to behave. □ He is utterly unpredictable. □ …Britain's notoriously unpredictable weather. ● un|pre|dict|ably ADV [usu ADV with v, ADV adj] □ Monthly costs can rise or fall unpredictably. □ …her son's unpredictably violent behavior to others. ● un|pre|dict|abil|ity /ʌ npr I d I ktəb I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft with poss] □ [+ of ] …the unpredictability of the weather.
un|pre|pared /ʌ npr I peə r d/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are unprepared for something, you are not ready for it, and you are therefore surprised or at a disadvantage when it happens. □ [+ for ] I was totally unprepared for the announcement on the next day. □ Faculty members complain that their students are unprepared to do college-level work. □ We were caught completely unprepared.
2 ADJ If you are unprepared to do something, you are not willing to do it. □ He was unprepared to co-operate, or indeed to communicate.
un|pre|pos|sess|ing /ʌ npriːpəze s I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe someone or something as unprepossessing , you mean that they look rather plain or ordinary, although they may have good or special qualities that are hidden. [FORMAL ] □ We found the tastiest food in the most unprepossessing bars and cafés.
un|pre|ten|tious /ʌ npr I te nʃəs/ ADJ If you describe a place, person, or thing as unpretentious , you approve of them because they are simple in appearance or character, rather than sophisticated or luxurious. [APPROVAL ] □ The Tides Inn is both comfortable and unpretentious. □ …good, unpretentious pop music.
un|prin|ci|pled /ʌnpr I ns I p ə ld/ ADJ If you describe a person or their actions as unprincipled , you are criticizing them for their lack of moral principles and because they do things which are immoral or dishonest. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ It is a market where people can be very unprincipled and unpleasant. □ …the unprincipled behaviour of the prosecutor's office during the crisis.
un|print|able /ʌ npr I ntəb ə l/ ADJ If you describe something that someone has said or done as unprintable , you mean that it is so rude or shocking that you do not want to say exactly what it was. □ Her reply was unprintable. □ …some quite unprintable stories.
un|pro|duc|tive /ʌ nprədʌ kt I v/ ADJ Something that is unproductive does not produce any good results. □ Research workers are well aware that much of their time and effort is unproductive. □ …increasingly unproductive land.
un|pro|fes|sion|al /ʌ nprəfe ʃən ə l/ ADJ If you use unprofessional to describe someone's behaviour at work, you are criticizing them for not behaving according to the standards that are expected of a person in their profession. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ What she did was very unprofessional. She left abruptly about 90 minutes into the show. □ He was also fined $150 for unprofessional conduct.
un|prof|it|able /ʌ nprɒ f I təb ə l/
1 ADJ An industry, company, or product that is unprofitable does not make any profit or does not make enough profit. [BUSINESS ] □ …unprofitable state-owned industries. □ The newspaper is believed to have been unprofitable for at least the past decade.
2 ADJ Unprofitable activities or efforts do not produce any useful or helpful results. □ …an endless, unprofitable argument. □ The day proved frustratingly unprofitable.
un|prom|is|ing /ʌ nprɒ m I s I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe something as unpromising , you think that it is unlikely to be successful or produce anything good in the future. □ In fact, his business career had distinctly unpromising beginnings. □ Their land looked so unpromising that the colonists eventually gave most of it back.
un|pro|nounce|able /ʌ nprənaʊ nsəb ə l/ ADJ An unpronounceable word or name is too difficult to say.
un|pro|tect|ed /ʌ nprəte kt I d/
1 ADJ [ADJ n, v-link ADJ , ADJ after v] An unprotected person or place is not looked after or defended, and so they may be harmed or attacked. □ What better target than an unprotected girl, going along that river walkway in the dark? □ The landing beaches would be unprotected.
2 ADJ [ADJ n, v-link ADJ , ADJ after v] If something is unprotected , it is not covered or treated with anything, and so it may easily be damaged. □ Exposure of unprotected skin to the sun carries the risk of developing skin cancer. □ This leaves fertile soil unprotected and prone to erosion.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] If two people have unprotected sex, they do not use a condom when they have sex.
un|prov|en /ʌ npruː v ə n, -proʊ v-/ or unproved /ʌnpruː vd/ ADJ If something is unproven , it has not definitely been proved to be true. □ There are a lot of unproven allegations flying around.
un|pro|voked /ʌ nprəvoʊ kt/ ADJ If someone makes an unprovoked attack, they attack someone who has not tried to harm them in any way.
un|pub|lished /ʌ npʌ bl I ʃt/ ADJ An unpublished book, letter, or report has never been published. An unpublished writer has never had his or her work published.
un|pun|ished /ʌ npʌ n I ʃt/ ADJ [v-link ADJ , ADJ n, ADJ after v] If a criminal or crime goes unpunished , the criminal is not punished. □ [+ by ] Persistent criminals have gone unpunished by the courts. □ I have been amazed at times that cruelty can go unpunished.
un|quali|fied /ʌ nkwɒ l I fa I d/
1 ADJ If you are unqualified , you do not have any qualifications, or you do not have the right qualifications for a particular job. □ [+ for ] She was unqualified for the job. □ Unqualified members of staff at the hospital were not sufficiently supervised.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Unqualified means total or unlimited. [EMPHASIS ] □ The event was an unqualified success. □ They have given almost unqualified backing to the government.
un|ques|tion|able /ʌnkwe stʃənəb ə l/ ADJ If you describe something as unquestionable , you are emphasizing that it is so obviously true or real that nobody can doubt it. [EMPHASIS ] □ He inspires affection and respect as a man of unquestionable integrity. □ There is an unquestionable link between job losses and deteriorating services. ● un|ques|tion|ably /ʌnkwe stʃənəbli/ ADV □ They have seen the change as unquestionably beneficial to the country. □ He is unquestionably a star.
un|ques|tioned /ʌnkwe stʃənd/
1 ADJ You use unquestioned to emphasize that something is so obvious, real, or great that nobody can doubt it or disagree with it. [EMPHASIS ] □ His commitment has been unquestioned. □ The play was an immediate and unquestioned success in London.
2 ADJ If something or someone is unquestioned , they are accepted by everyone, without anyone doubting or disagreeing. □ Stalin was the unquestioned ruler of the Soviet Union from the late 1920s until his death in 1953.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] If you describe someone's belief or attitude as unquestioned , you are emphasizing that they accept something without any doubt or disagreement. [EMPHASIS ] □ Royalty is regarded with unquestioned reverence.
un|ques|tion|ing /ʌnkwe stʃən I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a person or their beliefs as unquestioning , you are emphasizing that they accept something without any doubt or disagreement. [EMPHASIS ] □ Isabella had been taught unquestioning obedience. □ For the last 20 years, I have been an unquestioning supporter of comprehensive schools. ● un|ques|tion|ing|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ She supported him unquestioningly.
un|quote /ʌ nkwoʊt/ PHRASE You can say quote before and unquote after a word or phrase, or quote, unquote before or after it, to show that you are quoting someone or that you do not believe that a word or phrase used by others is accurate. [SPOKEN ] □ He drowned in a boating quote 'accident' unquote.
un|rav|el /ʌnræ v ə l/ (unravels , unravelling , unravelled ) in AM, use unraveling , unraveled 1 VERB If something such as a plan or system unravels , it breaks up or begins to fail. □ [V ] His government began to unravel because of a banking scandal.
2 VERB If you unravel something that is knotted, woven, or knitted, or if it unravels , it becomes one straight piece again or separates into its different threads. □ [V n] He could unravel a knot that others wouldn't even attempt. □ [V ] The stairway carpet is so frayed it threatens to unravel.
3 VERB If you unravel a mystery or puzzle, or if it unravels , it gradually becomes clearer and you can work out the answer to it. □ [V n] A young mother has flown to Iceland to unravel the mystery of her friend's disappearance. □ [V ] Gradually, with an intelligent use of flashbacks, Yves' story unravels.
un|read /ʌ nre d/ ADJ [ADJ after v, ADJ n, v-link ADJ ] If a book or other piece of writing is unread , you or other people have not read it, for example because it is boring or because you have no time. □ All his unpublished writing should be destroyed unread. □ He caught up on months of unread periodicals.
un|read|able /ʌ nriː dəb ə l/
1 ADJ If you use unreadable to describe a book or other piece of writing, you are criticizing it because it is very boring, complicated, or difficult to understand. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ For some this is the greatest novel in the world. For others it is unreadable.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If a piece of writing is unreadable , it is impossible to read because the letters are unclear, especially because it has been damaged in some way. □ …if contracts are unreadable because of the microscopic print.
3 ADJ If someone's face or expression is unreadable , it is impossible to tell what they are thinking or feeling. [LITERARY ] □ He looked back at the woman for approval, but her face was unreadable.
un|real /ʌ nriː l/
1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say that a situation is unreal , you mean that it is so strange that you find it difficult to believe it is happening. □ It was unreal. Like some crazy childhood nightmare. □ It felt so unreal to be talking about our son like this. ● un|re|al|ity /ʌ nriæ l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ He felt light-headed, with a sense of unreality.
2 ADJ If you use unreal to describe something, you are critical of it because you think that it is not like, or not related to, things you expect to find in the real world. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …unreal financial targets. □ Almost all fictional detectives are unreal.
un|re|al|is|tic /ʌ nriəl I st I k/ ADJ If you say that someone is being unrealistic , you mean that they do not recognize the truth about a situation, especially about the difficulties involved in something they want to achieve. □ [+ in ] There are many who feel that the players are being completely unrealistic in their demands. □ It would be unrealistic to expect such a process ever to be completed. □ …their unrealistic expectations of parenthood. ● un|re|al|is|ti|cal|ly /ʌ nriəl I st I kli/ ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ Tom spoke unrealistically of getting a full-time job that paid an enormous sum. □ …unrealistically high standards of expectation.
un|rea|son|able /ʌnriː zənəb ə l/
1 ADJ If you say that someone is being unreasonable , you mean that they are behaving in a way that is not fair or sensible. □ [+ in ] The strikers were being unreasonable in their demands, having rejected the deal two weeks ago. □ It was her unreasonable behaviour which broke up their friendship. □ It's unreasonable to expect your child to behave in a caring way if you behave selfishly. ● un|rea|son|ably /ʌnriː zənəbli/ ADV □ We unreasonably expect near perfect behaviour from our children.
2 ADJ An unreasonable decision, action, price, or amount seems unfair and difficult to justify. □ …unreasonable increases in the price of petrol. □ One in four consumers now say water prices are very unreasonable. ● un|rea|son|ably ADV [usu ADV adj] □ The banks' charges are unreasonably high.
un|rea|son|ing /ʌnriː zən I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n] Unreasoning feelings or actions are not logical, sensible, or controlled. [LITERARY ] □ At this moment of success I found only an unreasoning sense of futility. □ Niki's voice provoked a new bout of unreasoning anger.
un|rec|og|niz|able /ʌ nre kəgna I zəbl, -na I z-/ in BRIT, also use unrecognisable ADJ If someone or something is unrecognizable , they have become impossible to recognize or identify, for example because they have been greatly changed or damaged. □ Jean's face was twisted, unrecognizable. □ [+ to ] The new town would have been unrecognisable to the original inhabitants.
un|rec|og|nized /ʌ nre kəgna I zd/ in BRIT, also use unrecognised 1 ADJ [ADJ after v, v-link ADJ ] If someone does something unrecognized , nobody knows or recognizes them while they do it. □ He is believed to have worked unrecognised as a doorman at East End clubs.
2 ADJ [ADJ after v, v-link ADJ , ADJ n] If something is unrecognized , people are not aware of it. □ There is the possibility that hypothermia can go unrecognized. □ There must be many vases, bowls or bottles sitting unrecognised in people's homes.
3 ADJ [ADJ after v, v-link ADJ , ADJ n] If you or your achievements or qualities are unrecognized , you have not been properly appreciated or acknowledged by other people for what you have done. □ Hard work and talent so often go unrecognised and unrewarded. □ There really is a wealth of unrecognised talent out there.
4 ADJ [ADJ n, v-link ADJ ] An unrecognized organization, position, or event is not formally acknowledged as legal or valid by the authorities. □ He claimed that the rank of Cardinal was unrecognized by those who were not Catholic.
un|re|con|struct|ed /ʌ nriːkənstrʌ kt I d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe systems, beliefs, policies, or people as unreconstructed , you are critical of them because they have not changed at all, in spite of new ideas and circumstances. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …the unreconstructed racism of the official opposition. □ She accused him of being an unreconstructed male chauvinist.
un|re|cord|ed /ʌ nr I kɔː r d I d/ ADJ [ADJ n, v-link ADJ , ADJ after v] You use unrecorded to describe something that has not been written down or recorded officially, especially when it should have been. □ The statistics don't reveal, of course, unrecorded crime. □ 7,000 people had been infected, but many cases were going unrecorded.
un|re|fined /ʌ nr I fa I nd/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] An unrefined food or other substance is in its natural state and has not been processed. □ Unrefined carbohydrates include brown rice and other grains. □ …the price of unrefined oil as it comes out of the ground.
un|re|hearsed /ʌ nr I hɜː r st/ ADJ Unrehearsed activities or performances have not been prepared, planned, or practised beforehand. □ In fact, the recordings were mostly unrehearsed improvisations.
un|re|lat|ed /ʌ nr I le I t I d/
1 ADJ If one thing is unrelated to another, there is no connection between them. You can also say that two things are unrelated . □ [+ to ] My line of work is entirely unrelated to politics. □ Two of them died from apparently unrelated causes.
2 ADJ If one person is unrelated to another, they are not members of the same family. You can also say that two people are unrelated . [WRITTEN ] □ [+ to ] Jimmy is adopted and thus unrelated to Beth by blood.
un|re|lent|ing /ʌ nr I le nt I ŋ/
1 ADJ If you describe someone's behaviour as unrelenting , you mean that they are continuing to do something in a very determined way, often without caring whether they hurt or embarrass other people. □ She established her authority with unrelenting thoroughness. □ In the face of severe opposition and unrelenting criticism, the task seemed overwhelming.
2 ADJ If you describe something unpleasant as unrelenting , you mean that it continues without stopping. □ …an unrelenting downpour of rain.
un|re|li|able /ʌ nr I la I əb ə l/ ADJ If you describe a person, machine, or method as unreliable , you mean that you cannot trust them. □ Diplomats can be a notoriously unreliable and misleading source of information. □ He had an unreliable car. ● un|re|li|abil|ity /ʌ nr I la I əb I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ …his lateness and unreliability.
un|re|lieved /ʌ nr I liː vd/ ADJ If you describe something unpleasant as unrelieved , you mean that it is very severe and is not replaced by anything better, even for a short time. □ …unrelieved misery. □ [+ by ] The sun baked down on the concrete, unrelieved by any breeze.
un|re|mark|able /ʌ nr I mɑː r kəb ə l/ ADJ If you describe someone or something as unremarkable , you mean that they are very ordinary, without many exciting, original, or attractive qualities. □ …a tall, lean man, with an unremarkable face. □ …a rather unremarkable town in North Wales.
un|re|marked /ʌ nr I mɑː r kt/ ADJ [v-link ADJ , ADJ after v, ADJ n] If something happens or goes unremarked , people say nothing about it, because they consider it normal or do not notice it. [FORMAL ] □ His departure, in fact, went almost unremarked. □ It did not pass unremarked that three-quarters of the petitions were instituted by women.
un|re|mit|ting /ʌ nr I m I t I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is unremitting continues without stopping or becoming less intense. [FORMAL ] □ I was sent to boarding school, where I spent six years of unremitting misery. □ He watched her with unremitting attention. ● un|re|mit|ting|ly ADV [usu ADV adj] □ The weather was unremittingly awful.
un|re|pent|ant /ʌ nr I pe ntənt/ ADJ If you are unrepentant , you are not ashamed of your beliefs or actions. □ [+ about ] Pamela was unrepentant about her strong language and abrasive remarks. □ …unrepentant defenders of the death penalty.
un|rep|re|senta|tive /ʌ nrepr I ze ntət I v/ ADJ If you describe a group of people as unrepresentative , you mean that their views are not typical of the community or society to which they belong. □ [+ of ] The President denounced the demonstrators as unrepresentative of the country.
un|rep|re|sent|ed /ʌ nrepr I ze nt I d/ ADJ If you are unrepresented in something such as a parliament, legislature, law court, or meeting, there is nobody there speaking or acting for you, for example to give your opinions or instructions. □ Their interests frequently went unrepresented in urban redevelopment.
un|re|quit|ed /ʌ nr I kwa I t I d/ ADJ If you have unrequited love for someone, they do not love you. [LITERARY ] □ …his unrequited love for a married woman.
un|re|served /ʌ nr I zɜː r vd/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] An unreserved opinion or statement is one that expresses a feeling or opinion completely and without any doubts. □ Charles displays unreserved admiration for his grandfather. □ Jones' lawyers are seeking an unreserved apology from the newspaper. ● un|re|serv|ed|ly /ʌ nr I zɜː r v I dli/ ADV [ADV with v] □ We apologise unreservedly for any imputation of incorrect behaviour by Mr Taylor.
un|re|solved /ʌ nr I zɒ lvd/ ADJ [v-link ADJ , ADJ n, ADJ after v] If a problem or difficulty is unresolved , no satisfactory solution has been found to it. [FORMAL ] □ The murder remains unresolved. □ …unresolved issues.
un|re|spon|sive /ʌ nr I spɒ ns I v/
1 ADJ An unresponsive person does not react or pay enough attention to something, for example to an urgent situation or to people's needs. [FORMAL ] □ [+ to ] He was totally unresponsive to the pressing social and economic needs of the majority. □ …a cold, unresponsive man.
2 ADJ If a person or their body is unresponsive , they do not react physically in a normal way, or do not make any movements. [FORMAL ] □ I found her in a coma, totally unresponsive.
un|rest /ʌ nre st/ N‑UNCOUNT If there is unrest in a particular place or society, people are expressing anger and dissatisfaction about something, often by demonstrating or rioting. [JOURNALISM ] □ The real danger is civil unrest in the east of the country. □ [+ among ] There is growing unrest among students in several major cities.
un|re|strained /ʌ nr I stre I nd/ ADJ If you describe someone's behaviour as unrestrained , you mean that it is extreme or intense, for example because they are expressing their feelings strongly or loudly. □ There was unrestrained joy on the faces of the people.
un|re|strict|ed /ʌ nr I str I kt I d/
1 ADJ If an activity is unrestricted , you are free to do it in the way that you want, without being limited by any rules. □ Freedom to pursue extra-curricular activities is totally unrestricted. □ The Commissioner has absolutely unrestricted access to all the files.
2 ADJ If you have an unrestricted view of something, you can see it fully and clearly, because there is nothing in the way. □ Nearly all seats have an unrestricted view.
un|re|ward|ed /ʌ nr I wɔː r d I d/ ADJ You can say that someone goes unrewarded , or that their activities go unrewarded , when they do not achieve what they are trying to achieve. □ The jockey rushed back from America to ride at Nottingham on Monday but went unrewarded. □ …a long and unrewarded struggle.
un|re|ward|ing /ʌ nr I wɔː r d I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe an activity as unrewarding , you mean that it does not give you any feelings of achievement or pleasure. □ …dirty and unrewarding work. □ Listening to it in its entirety is also fairly unrewarding.
un|ripe /ʌ nra I p/ ADJ Unripe fruit or vegetables are not yet ready to eat.
un|ri|valled /ʌnra I v ə ld/ in AM, use unrivaled ADJ If you describe something as unrivalled , you are emphasizing that it is better than anything else of the same kind. [EMPHASIS ] □ He had an unrivalled knowledge of south Arabian society, religion, law and customs. □ [+ in ] It's a team unrivalled in stature, expertise and credibility.
un|roll /ʌ nroʊ l/ (unrolls , unrolling , unrolled ) VERB If you unroll something such as a sheet of paper or cloth, or if it unrolls , it opens up and becomes flat when it was previously rolled in a cylindrical shape. □ [V n] I unrolled my sleeping bag as usual. □ [V ] They show movies on the screen that unrolls from the ceiling.
un|ruf|fled /ʌ nrʌ f ə ld/ ADJ If you describe someone as unruffled , you mean that they are calm and do not seem to be affected by surprising or frightening events.
un|ru|ly /ʌnruː li/
1 ADJ If you describe people, especially children, as unruly , you mean that they behave badly and are difficult to control. □ It's not good enough just to blame the unruly children. □ …unruly behaviour.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Unruly hair is difficult to keep tidy. □ The man had a huge head of remarkably black, unruly hair.
un|safe /ʌ nse I f/
1 ADJ If a building, machine, activity, or area is unsafe , it is dangerous. □ Critics claim the trucks are unsafe. □ She was also warned it was unsafe to run early in the morning in the neighbourhood.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are unsafe , you are in danger of being harmed. □ In the larger neighbourhood, I felt very unsafe.
3 ADJ If a criminal conviction is unsafe , it is not based on enough evidence or is based on false evidence. [BRIT , LEGAL ] □ An appeal court decided their convictions were unsafe.
un|said /ʌ nse d/ ADJ [usu ADJ after v, oft v-link ADJ , ADJ n] If something is left unsaid or goes unsaid in a particular situation, it is not said, although you might have expected it to be said. □ Some things, Donald, are better left unsaid. □ I would not intentionally be dishonest, but some things would go unsaid.
un|sale|able /ʌ nse I ləb ə l/ also unsalable ADJ If something is unsaleable , it cannot be sold because nobody wants to buy it. □ Most developers reserve the right to turn down a property they think is virtually unsaleable.
un|sani|tary /ʌ nsæ n I tri, [AM ] -teri/ ADJ Something that is unsanitary is dirty and unhealthy, so that you may catch a disease from it. □ …diseases caused by unsanitary conditions. □ Discharge of raw sewage into the sea is unsanitary and unsafe.
un|sat|is|fac|tory /ʌ nsæt I sfæ ktəri/ ADJ If you describe something as unsatisfactory , you mean that it is not as good as it should be, and cannot be considered acceptable. □ The inspectors said just under a third of lessons were unsatisfactory. □ He asked a few more questions, to which he received unsatisfactory answers.
un|sat|is|fied /ʌ nsæ t I sfa I d/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are unsatisfied with something, you are disappointed because you have not got what you hoped to get. □ The game ended a few hours too early, leaving players and spectators unsatisfied. □ [+ with ] The centre helps people who are unsatisfied with the solicitors they are given.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If a need or demand is unsatisfied , it is not dealt with. □ …products for which unsatisfied demand exists.
un|sat|is|fy|ing /ʌ nsæ t I sfa I I ŋ/ ADJ If you find something unsatisfying , you do not get any satisfaction from it. □ Rose says so far the marriage has been unsatisfying. □ The boredom is caused as much by people's unsatisfying home lives as by lack of work.
un|sa|voury /ʌnse I vəri/ in AM, use unsavory ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a person, place, or thing as unsavoury , you mean that you find them unpleasant or morally unacceptable. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The sport has long been associated with illegal wagers and unsavoury characters.
un|scathed /ʌnske I ðd/ ADJ [ADJ after v, v-link ADJ ] If you are unscathed after a dangerous experience, you have not been injured or harmed by it. □ Tony emerged unscathed apart from a severely bruised finger. □ [+ by ] The east side of the city was left unscathed by the riots.
un|sched|uled /ʌ nʃe djuːld, [AM ] -ske d-/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] An unscheduled event was not planned to happen, but happens unexpectedly or because someone changes their plans at a late stage. □ …an unscheduled meeting with the Foreign Secretary. □ The ship made an unscheduled stop at Hawaii.
un|schooled /ʌ nskuː ld/ ADJ An unschooled person has had no formal education. [LITERARY ] □ …unskilled work done by unschooled people. □ He was almost completely unschooled.
un|sci|en|tif|ic /ʌ nsa I ənt I f I k/ ADJ Research or treatment that is unscientific is not likely to be good because it is not based on facts or is not done in the proper way. □ The team's methods were considered totally unscientific. □ …this small, unscientific sample of voters.
un|scram|ble /ʌ nskræ mb ə l/ (unscrambles , unscrambling , unscrambled ) VERB To unscramble things that are in a state of confusion or disorder means to arrange them so that they can be understood or seen clearly. □ [V n] All you have to do is unscramble the words here to find four names of birds. □ [V n] TV users need a set-top device capable of unscrambling the signal.
un|screw /ʌ nskruː / (unscrews , unscrewing , unscrewed )
1 VERB If you unscrew something such as a lid, or if it unscrews , you keep turning it until you can remove it. □ [V n] She unscrewed the cap of her water bottle and gave him a drink. □ [V ] The base of the lamp unscrews for wiring and mounting.
2 VERB If you unscrew something such as a sign or mirror which is fastened to something by screws, you remove it by taking out the screws. □ [V n] He unscrewed the back of the telephone and started connecting it to the cable.
un|script|ed /ʌ nskr I pt I d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] An unscripted talk or speech is made without detailed preparation, rather than being read out. □ …unscripted radio programmes.
un|scru|pu|lous /ʌnskruː pjʊləs/ ADJ If you describe a person as unscrupulous , you are critical of the fact that they are prepared to act in a dishonest or immoral way in order to get what they want. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ These kids are being exploited by very unscrupulous people. □ …the unscrupulous use of hostages.
un|sea|son|ably /ʌ nsiː zənəbli/ ADV [ADV adj] Unseasonably warm, cold, or mild weather is warmer, colder, or milder than it usually is at the time of year. □ …a spell of unseasonably warm weather. □ It was unseasonably mild for late January.
un|seat /ʌ nsiː t/ (unseats , unseating , unseated ) VERB When people try to unseat a person who is in an important job or position, they try to remove him or her from that job or position. □ [V n] It is still not clear who was behind Sunday's attempt to unseat the President.
un|secured /ʌ ns I kjʊə r d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Unsecured is used to describe loans or debts that are not guaranteed by a particular asset such as a person's home. □ We can arrange unsecured loans for any amount from £500 to £7,500.
un|seed|ed /ʌ nsiː d I d/ ADJ In tennis and badminton competitions, an unseeded player is someone who has not been ranked among the top 16 players by the competition's organizers. □ He was understandably dejected after losing in the first round to an unseeded American.
un|see|ing /ʌ nsiː I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n, ADJ after v, v-link ADJ ] If you describe a person or their eyes as unseeing , you mean that they are not looking at anything, or not noticing something, although their eyes are open. [LITERARY ] □ In the hallway Greenfield was staring at the wood panelling with unseeing eyes. □ He stared unseeing out of the window.
un|seem|ly /ʌnsiː mli/ ADJ If you say that someone's behaviour is unseemly , you disapprove of it because it is not polite or not suitable for a particular situation or occasion. [LITERARY , DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ for ] It would be unseemly for judges to receive pay increases when others are struggling. □ …unseemly drinking, brawling and gambling.
un|seen /ʌ nsiː n/
1 ADJ If you describe something as unseen , you mean that it has not been seen for a long time. □ …a spectacular ballroom, unseen by the public for over 30 years. □ We print a selection of previously unseen photos from the Spanish rider's early years.
2 ADJ [ADJ n, ADJ after v] You can use unseen to describe things which people cannot see. □ For me, a performance is in front of a microphone, over the radio, to an unseen audience. □ There was barely time for the two boys to escape unseen.
un|self|ish /ʌ nse lf I ʃ/ ADJ If you describe someone as unselfish , you approve of the fact that they regard other people's wishes and interests as more important than their own. [APPROVAL ] □ She started to get a reputation as an unselfish girl with a heart of gold. □ As a player he was unselfish, a true team man. ● un|self|ish|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ She has loyally and unselfishly spent every day at her friend's side. ● un|self|ish|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ …acts of unselfishness and care.
un|sen|ti|men|tal /ʌ nsent I me nt ə l/ ADJ If you describe someone as unsentimental , you mean that they do not allow emotions like pity or affection to interfere with their work or decisions. □ She was a practical, unsentimental woman. □ [+ about ] They are unsentimental about their impact on employees.
un|set|tle /ʌ nse t ə l/ (unsettles , unsettling , unsettled ) VERB If something unsettles you, it makes you feel rather worried or uncertain. □ [V n] The presence of the two police officers unsettled her.
un|set|tled /ʌ nse t ə ld/
1 ADJ In an unsettled situation, there is a lot of uncertainty about what will happen. □ Britain's unsettled political scene also worries some investors.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are unsettled , you cannot concentrate on anything because you are worried. □ A lot of people wake up every day with a sense of being unsettled and disturbed.
3 ADJ An unsettled argument or dispute has not yet been resolved. □ They were in the process of resolving all the unsettled issues.
4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Unsettled places are places where no people have yet lived. □ Until very recently Texas was an unsettled frontier.
5 ADJ Unsettled weather is unpredictable and changes a lot. □ Despite the unsettled weather, we had a marvellous weekend.
un|set|tling /ʌ nse təl I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe something as unsettling , you mean that it makes you feel rather worried or uncertain. □ The prospect of change of this kind has an unsettling effect on any organisation. ● un|set|tling|ly ADV [ADV adj] □ It was unsettlingly quiet.
un|shad|ed /ʌ nʃe I d I d/ ADJ [ADJ n] An unshaded light or light bulb has no shade fitted to it.
un|shake|able /ʌ nʃe I kəb ə l/ also unshakable ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone's beliefs as unshakeable , you are emphasizing that they are so strong that they cannot be destroyed or altered. [EMPHASIS ] □ She had an unshakeable faith in human goodness and natural honesty.
un|shak|en /ʌ nʃe I kən/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If your beliefs are unshaken , you still have those beliefs, although they have been attacked or challenged. □ His faith that men such as the Reverend John Leale tried to do their best is unshaken.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are unshaken by something, you are not emotionally affected by it. □ [+ by ] Mona remains unshaken by her ordeal and is matter-of-fact about her courage.
un|shav|en /ʌ nʃe I v ə n/ ADJ If a man is unshaven , he has not shaved recently and there are short hairs on his face or chin.
un|sight|ly /ʌnsa I tli/ ADJ If you describe something as unsightly , you mean that it is unattractive to look at. □ My mother has had unsightly varicose veins for years.
un|signed /ʌ nsa I nd/
1 ADJ An unsigned document does not have anyone's signature on it.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An unsigned band has not signed a contract with a company to produce music.
un|skilled /ʌ nsk I ld/
1 ADJ People who are unskilled do not have any special training for a job. □ He went to Paris in search of work as an unskilled labourer.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Unskilled work does not require any special training. □ In the U.S., minorities and immigrants have generally gone into low-paid, unskilled jobs.
un|smil|ing /ʌ nsma I l I ŋ/ ADJ An unsmiling person is not smiling, and looks serious or unfriendly. [LITERARY ] □ He was unsmiling and silent. □ …the unsmiling woman in the ticket booth.
un|so|ciable /ʌnsoʊ ʃəb ə l/ ADJ Someone who is unsociable does not like talking to other people and tries to avoid meeting them. □ The experience has made me reclusive and unsociable. □ I am by no means an unsociable person.
un|so|cial /ʌnsoʊ ʃ ə l/ ADJ If someone works unsocial hours, they work late at night, early in the morning, at weekends, or on public holidays. In Britain, people are often paid extra for working unsocial hours. [BRIT ]
un|sold /ʌ nsoʊ ld/ ADJ Unsold goods have been available for people to buy but nobody has bought them. □ …piles of unsold books. □ 20,000 tickets remain unsold for the game on Saturday.
un|so|lic|it|ed /ʌ nsəl I s I t I d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is unsolicited has been given without being asked for and may not have been wanted. □ Ignore relatives who will give you lots of unsolicited advice.
un|solved /ʌ nsɒ lvd/ ADJ An unsolved mystery or problem has never been solved. □ …America's unsolved problems of poverty and racism. □ David's murder remains unsolved.
un|so|phis|ti|cat|ed /ʌ nsəf I st I ke I t I d/
1 ADJ Unsophisticated people do not have a wide range of experience or knowledge and have simple tastes. □ It was music of a rather crude kind which unsophisticated audiences enjoyed listening to. □ [+ in ] She was quite unsophisticated in the ways of the world.
2 ADJ An unsophisticated method or device is very simple and often not very effective. □ …an unsophisticated alarm system.
un|sound /ʌ nsaʊ nd/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If a conclusion or method is unsound , it is based on ideas that are wrong. □ The thinking is good-hearted, but muddled and fundamentally unsound. □ The national tests were educationally unsound.
2 ADJ If something or someone is unsound , they are unreliable. □ No sensible person would put his money in a bank he knew to be unsound.
3 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ , usu adv ADJ ] If you say that something is unsound in some way, you mean that it is damaging in that way or to the thing mentioned. □ The project is environmentally unsound. □ A diet extremely low in calories can also be a diet that is nutritionally unsound.
4 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If a building or other structure is unsound , it is in poor condition and is likely to collapse. □ The church was structurally unsound.
un|speak|able /ʌnspiː kəb ə l/ ADJ If you describe something as unspeakable , you are emphasizing that it is extremely unpleasant. [EMPHASIS ] □ …the unspeakable horrors of chemical weapons. □ …unspeakable crimes. ● un|speak|ably /ʌnspiː kəbli/ ADV [usu ADV adj] □ The novel was unspeakably boring.
un|speci|fied /ʌnspe s I fa I d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] You say that something is unspecified when you are not told exactly what it is. □ The government said an unspecified number of bandits were killed. □ He was arrested on unspecified charges.
un|spec|tacu|lar /ʌ nspektæ kjʊlə r / ADJ If you describe something as unspectacular , you mean that it is rather dull and not remarkable in any way. □ His progress at school had been unspectacular compared to his brother. □ …pleasant, if largely unspectacular, countryside.
un|spoiled /ʌ nspɔ I ld/ in BRIT, also use unspoilt /ʌ nspɔ I lt/ ADJ If you describe a place as unspoiled , you think it is beautiful because it has not been changed or built on for a long time. □ The port is quiet and unspoiled. □ …the unspoiled island of Cozumel.
un|spo|ken /ʌ nspoʊ kən/
1 ADJ If your thoughts, wishes, or feelings are unspoken , you do not speak about them. □ His face was expressionless, but Alex felt the unspoken criticism. □ The other unspoken fear here is of an outbreak of hooliganism.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] When there is an unspoken agreement or understanding between people, their behaviour shows that they agree about something or understand it, even though they have never spoken about it. □ There had been an unspoken agreement between them that he would not call for her at Seymour House.
un|sport|ing /ʌ nspɔː r t I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe someone playing a game as unsporting , you are critical of them because they have done something that is unfair to their opponent. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Players can be fined and even disqualified for unsporting actions.
un|sta|ble /ʌ nste I b ə l/
1 ADJ You can describe something as unstable if it is likely to change suddenly, especially if this creates difficulty or danger. □ After the fall of Pitt in 1801 there was a decade of unstable government. □ The situation is unstable and potentially dangerous.
2 ADJ Unstable objects are likely to move or fall. □ Both clay and sandstone are unstable rock formations.
3 ADJ If people are unstable , their emotions and behaviour keep changing because their minds are disturbed or upset. □ He was emotionally unstable.
un|stat|ed /ʌnste I t I d/ ADJ You say that something is unstated when it has not been expressed in words. □ The implication was plain, if left unstated. □ An additional, unstated reason for his resignation may have been a lawsuit filed against him.
un|steady /ʌnste di/
1 ADJ If you are unsteady , you have difficulty doing something, for example walking, because you cannot completely control your legs or your body. □ The boy was very unsteady and had staggered around when he got up. □ He poured coffee into the mugs, and with an unsteady hand, held one of them out to David. ● un|steadi|ly /ʌnste d I li/ ADV [ADV with v] □ She pulled herself unsteadily from the bed to the dresser.
2 ADJ If you describe something as unsteady , you mean that it is not regular or stable, but unreliable or unpredictable. □ His voice was unsteady and only just audible.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Unsteady objects are not held, fixed, or balanced securely. □ …a slightly unsteady item of furniture.
un|stick /ʌnst I k/ (unsticks , unsticking , unstuck )
1 VERB If you unstick something or if it unsticks , it becomes separated from the thing that it was stuck to. □ [V n] Mike shook his head, to unstick his hair from his sweating forehead. □ [V ] The stewards' badges do not unstick from a car and therefore cannot be passed around.
2 → see also unstuck
un|stint|ing /ʌnst I nt I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Unstinting help, care, or praise is great in amount or degree and is given generously. □ The task was made easier by the unstinting help extended to me.
un|stop|pable /ʌnstɒ pəb ə l/ ADJ Something that is unstoppable cannot be prevented from continuing or developing. □ The progress of science is unstoppable. □ …the country's seemingly unstoppable economy.
un|stressed /ʌ nstre st/ ADJ If a word or syllable is unstressed , it is pronounced without emphasis. [TECHNICAL ] □ …the unstressed syllable of words like 'above', 'surround' or 'arrive'.
un|struc|tured /ʌ nstrʌ ktʃə r d/ ADJ Something such as a meeting, interview, or activity that is unstructured is not organized in a complete or detailed way. □ Our aim was that these meetings be unstructured and informal.
un|stuck /ʌnstʌ k/
1 PHRASE If something comes unstuck , it becomes separated from the thing that it was attached to. □ The brown vinyl covering all the horizontal surfaces is coming unstuck in several places.
2 PHRASE To come unstuck means to fail. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ Economics comes unstuck when it doesn't take account of the actions of human beings. in AM, usually use come unglued 3 → see also unstick
un|sub|scribe /ʌ nsəbskra I b/ (unsubscribes , unsubscribing , unsubscribed ) VERB If you unsubscribe from an online service, you send a message saying that you no longer wish to receive that service. [COMPUTING ] □ [V ] Go to the website today and you can unsubscribe online.
un|sub|stan|ti|at|ed /ʌ nsəbstæ nʃie I t I d/ ADJ A claim, accusation, or story that is unsubstantiated has not been proved to be valid or true. □ I do object to their claim, which I find totally unsubstantiated. □ …unsubstantiated rumours about his private life.
un|suc|cess|ful /ʌ nsəkse sfʊl/
1 ADJ Something that is unsuccessful does not achieve what it was intended to achieve. □ His efforts were unsuccessful. □ …a second unsuccessful operation on his knee. □ There were reports last month of unsuccessful negotiations between guerrillas and commanders. ● un|suc|cess|ful|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ He has been trying unsuccessfully to sell the business in one piece since early last year.
2 ADJ Someone who is unsuccessful does not achieve what they intended to achieve, especially in their career. □ Successful people don't spend much more time working than many unsuccessful people do. □ [+ in ] He and his friend Boris were unsuccessful in getting a job.
un|suit|able /ʌ nsuː təb ə l/ ADJ Someone or something that is unsuitable for a particular purpose or situation does not have the right qualities for it. □ [+ for ] Amy's shoes were unsuitable for walking any distance.
un|suit|ed /ʌ nsuː t I d/
1 ADJ If someone or something is unsuited to a particular job, situation, or place, they do not have the right qualities or characteristics for it. □ [+ to ] He's totally unsuited to the job. □ [+ to ] The snow cruiser proved hopelessly unsuited to Antarctic conditions.
2 ADJ If two people, especially a man and a woman, are unsuited to each other, they have different personalities or interests, and so are unlikely to have a successful relationship. □ [+ to ] By the end of that first year, I knew how totally unsuited we were to each other.
un|sul|lied /ʌ nsʌ lid/ ADJ If something is unsullied , it has not been spoiled or made less pure by the addition of something unpleasant or unacceptable. [LITERARY ] □ She had the combined talents of toughness, intellect, experience and unsullied reputation. □ [+ by ] He smiled, unsullied by doubt.
un|sung /ʌ nsʌ ŋ/ ADJ Unsung is used to describe people, things, or places that are not appreciated or praised, although you think they deserve to be. [WRITTEN ] □ They are among the unsung heroes of our time.
un|sup|port|ed /ʌ nsəpɔː r t I d/
1 ADJ If a statement or theory is unsupported , there is no evidence which proves that it is true or correct. □ [+ by ] It was a theory unsupported by evidence. □ The letters contained unsupported allegations.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An unsupported person does not have anyone to provide them with money and the things they need. □ Unsupported mothers are one of the fastest-growing groups of welfare claimants.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An unsupported building or person is not being physically supported or held up by anything. □ …the vast unsupported wall of the Ajuda Palace in Lisbon. □ …the child's first unsupported step.
un|sure /ʌ nʃʊə r /
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are unsure of yourself, you lack confidence. □ [+ of ] He made her feel hot, and awkward, and unsure of herself. □ The evening show was terrible, with hesitant unsure performances from all.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are unsure about something, you feel uncertain about it. □ [+ about ] Fifty-two per cent were unsure about the idea. □ [+ of ] Scientists are becoming increasingly unsure of the validity of this technique.
un|sur|passed /ʌ nse r pɑː st, -pæ st/ ADJ If you describe something as unsurpassed , you are emphasizing that it is better or greater than anything else of its kind. [EMPHASIS ] □ The quality of Smallbone furniture is unsurpassed. □ [+ for ] …the Hamburg weekly, surely unsurpassed in the world for its intellectual range and quality.
un|sur|pris|ing /ʌ nsə r pra I z I ŋ/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ , oft ADJ that] If something is unsurprising , you are not surprised by it because you would expect it to happen or be like it is. □ It is unsurprising that he remains so hated. □ His choice was unsurprising. ● un|sur|pris|ing|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Unsurprisingly, not everyone agrees that things are better. □ The proposals were swiftly and unsurprisingly rejected by Western ministers.
un|sus|pect|ed /ʌ nsəspe kt I d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as unsuspected , you mean that people do not realize it or are not aware of it. □ A surprising number of ailments are caused by unsuspected environmental factors.
un|sus|pect|ing /ʌ nsəspe kt I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] You can use unsuspecting to describe someone who is not at all aware of something that is happening or going to happen. □ They are charged with selling worthless junk bonds to unsuspecting depositors. □ …his unsuspecting victim.
un|sweet|ened /ʌ nswiː t ə nd/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Unsweetened food or drink does not have any sugar or other sweet substance added to it.
un|swerv|ing /ʌnswɜː r v I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone's attitude, feeling, or way of behaving as unswerving , you mean that it is strong and firm and does not weaken or change. □ In his diary of 1944, he proclaims unswerving loyalty to the monarchy.
un|sym|pa|thet|ic /ʌ ns I mpəθe t I k/
1 ADJ If someone is unsympathetic , they are not kind or helpful to a person in difficulties. □ Her partner was unsympathetic and she felt she had no one to turn to. □ …an unsympathetic doctor.
2 ADJ An unsympathetic person is unpleasant and difficult to like. □ …a very unsympathetic main character. □ He's unsympathetic, but charismatic and complex.
3 ADJ If you are unsympathetic to a particular idea or aim, you are not willing to support it. □ [+ to ] I'm highly unsympathetic to what you are trying to achieve.
un|tamed /ʌ nte I md/ ADJ An untamed area or place is in its original or natural state and has not been changed or affected by people. [LITERARY ] □ …the wild, untamed undergrowth. □ The interior of Corsica is high and untamed.
un|tan|gle /ʌ ntæ ŋg ə l/ (untangles , untangling , untangled )
1 VERB If you untangle something that is knotted or has become twisted around something, you undo the knots in it or free it. □ [V n] He was found desperately trying to untangle several reels of film. □ [V n] …a light, non-sticky mousse which untangles hair and adds brilliant shine.
2 VERB If you untangle a confused or complicated situation, you make the different things involved clear, or put the situation right. □ [V n] Lawyers and accountants began trying to untangle the complex affairs of the bank.
un|tapped /ʌ ntæ pt/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] An untapped supply or source of something has not yet been used. □ Mongolia, although poor, has considerable untapped resources of oil and minerals.
un|ten|able /ʌ nte nəb ə l/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] An argument, theory, or position that is untenable cannot be defended successfully against criticism or attack. □ This argument is untenable from an intellectual, moral and practical standpoint.
un|test|ed /ʌ nte st I d/
1 ADJ If something or someone is untested , they have not yet been tried out or have not yet experienced a particular situation, so you do not know what they will be like. □ The Egyptian Army remained an untested force.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something such as a drug or chemical as untested , you mean that it has not been subject to scientific tests to find out if it is safe to use. □ …the dangers of giving untested drugs to people.
un|think|able /ʌnθ I ŋkəb ə l/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say that something is unthinkable , you are emphasizing that it cannot possibly be accepted or imagined as a possibility. [EMPHASIS ] □ Splitting the family in this way was almost unthinkable. ● N‑SING The unthinkable is something that is unthinkable. □ Edward VIII had done the unthinkable and abdicated the throne.
2 ADJ You can use unthinkable to describe a situation, event, or action which is extremely unpleasant to imagine or remember. □ This place is going to be unthinkable without you.
un|think|ing /ʌ nθ I ŋk I ŋ/ ADJ If you say that someone is unthinking , you are critical of them because you consider that they do not think carefully about the effects of their behaviour. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He doesn't say those silly things that unthinking people say. ● un|think|ing|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ They use their own judgment, rather than unthinkingly obeying instructions.
un|ti|dy /ʌnta I di/
1 ADJ If you describe something as untidy , you mean that it is not neat or well arranged. □ The place quickly became untidy. □ …a thin man with untidy hair. □ Clothes were thrown in the luggage in an untidy heap. ● un|ti|di|ly /ʌnta I d I li/ ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ Her long hair tumbles untidily around her shoulders. □ …the desk piled untidily with books and half-finished homework. ● un|ti|di|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ The dust and untidiness in her room no longer bothered her.
2 ADJ If you describe a person as untidy , you mean that they do not care about whether things are neat and well arranged, for example in their house. □ I'm untidy in most ways.
un|tie /ʌ nta I / (unties , untying , untied )
1 VERB If you untie something that is tied to another thing or if you untie two things that are tied together, you remove the string or rope that holds them or that has been tied round them. □ [V n] Nicholas untied the boat from her mooring. □ [V n] Just untie my hands.
2 VERB If you untie something such as string or rope, you undo it so that there is no knot or so that it is no longer tying something. □ [V n] She hurriedly untied the ropes binding her ankles. □ [V n] Then she untied her silk scarf.
3 VERB When you untie your shoelaces or your shoes, you loosen or undo the laces of your shoes. □ [V n] She untied the laces on one of her sneakers. □ [V -ed] Your boot lace is untied.
un|til ◆◆◆ /ʌnt I l/
1 PREP If something happens until a particular time, it happens during the period before that time and stops at that time. □ Until 2016, he was a high-ranking officer in the army. □ …consumers who have waited until after the Christmas holiday to do that holiday shopping. ● CONJ Until is also a conjunction. □ I waited until it got dark. □ Stir with a metal spoon until the sugar has dissolved.
2 PREP You use until with a negative to emphasize the moment in time after which the rest of your statement becomes true, or the condition which would make it true. □ The traffic laws don't take effect until the end of the year. □ It was not until 1911 that the first of the vitamins was identified. ● CONJ [CONJ after neg] Until is also a conjunction. □ The E.U. will not lift its sanctions until that country makes political changes.
3 up until → see up ➋ USAGE until
1
You only use until
or till
when you are talking about time. Don’t use these words to talk about position. Don’t say, for example, ‘
She walked until the post office
’. You say ‘She walked as far as
the post office’. □
They drove as far as
the Cantabrian mountains.
2
Don’t use ‘until’ or ‘till’ to say that something will have happened before a particular time. Don’t say, for example, ‘
The work will be finished until four o’clock
’. You say ‘The work will be finished by
four o’clock’. □
Total sales reached 1 million by
2017.
un|time|ly /ʌnta I mli/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe an event as untimely , you mean that it happened earlier than it should, or sooner than you expected. □ His mother's untimely death had a catastrophic effect on him.
2 ADJ You can describe something as untimely if it happens at an unsuitable time. □ …an untimely visit from the milkman. □ I am sure your readers would have seen the article as at best untimely.
un|tir|ing /ʌnta I ə r I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a person or their efforts as untiring , you approve of them because they continue what they are doing without slowing down or stopping. [APPROVAL ] □ …an untiring fighter for justice, democracy and tolerance.
un|tit|led /ʌ nta I t ə ld/
1 ADJ If something such as a book, film, or song is untitled , it does not have a title. □ The full-length feature, as yet untitled, will include footage of their live gigs.
2 ADJ Someone who is untitled does not have a title such as 'Sir' or 'Lord'.
unto /ʌ ntu/
1 PREP Unto was used to indicate that something was done or given to someone. [LITERARY or OLD-FASHIONED ] □ And he said unto him, 'Who is my neighbor?' □ I will do unto others what they did to me.
2 PREP Unto was used to indicate that something continued until a particular time. [LITERARY or OLD-FASHIONED ] □ Be ye faithful unto the end.
un|told /ʌ ntoʊ ld/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use untold to emphasize how bad or unpleasant something is. [EMPHASIS ] □ The demise of the industry has caused untold misery to thousands of hard-working tradesmen. □ This might do untold damage to her health.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use untold to emphasize that an amount or quantity is very large, especially when you are not sure how large it is. [EMPHASIS ] □ …the nation's untold millions of anglers.
un|touch|able /ʌntʌ tʃəb ə l/ (untouchables )
1 ADJ If you say that someone is untouchable , you mean that they cannot be affected or punished in any way. □ I want to make it clear, however, that no one is untouchable in this investigation. ● N‑COUNT An untouchable is someone who is untouchable. □ …an anti-corruption squad nicknamed the 'Untouchables'.
2 ADJ If you describe someone, especially a sports player or entertainer, as untouchable , you are emphasizing that they are better than anyone else in what they do. [EMPHASIS ] □ A lot of the players began to feel they were untouchable.
3 N‑COUNT Some people refer to Hindus of the lowest social rank as untouchables . [OFFENSIVE ] □ He was born an untouchable in a very poor village in south India.
un|touched /ʌ ntʌ tʃt/
1 ADJ [v-link ADJ , ADJ after v] Something that is untouched by something else is not affected by it. □ [+ by ] Few areas of life remain untouched by technology.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ , ADJ after v] If something is untouched , it is not damaged in any way, although it has been in a situation where it could easily have been damaged. □ Amongst the rubble, there was one building that remained untouched. □ Some banknotes were taken but credit cards left untouched.
3 ADJ [ADJ n, v-link ADJ , ADJ after v] An untouched area or place is thought to be beautiful because it is still in its original state and has not been changed or damaged in any way. □ Ducie is one of the world's last untouched islands, nearly 5,000km from Australia.
4 ADJ [v-link ADJ , ADJ after v, ADJ n] If food or drink is untouched , none of it has been eaten or drunk. □ The coffee was untouched, the toast had cooled.
un|to|ward /ʌ ntəwɔː r d, [AM ] -tɔː r d/ ADJ [ADJ n] If you say that something untoward happens, you mean that something happens that is unexpected and causes difficulties. [FORMAL ] □ The surveyor's report didn't highlight anything untoward. □ Tampering with a single enzyme can lead to untoward effects elsewhere.
un|trace|able /ʌ ntre I səb ə l/ ADJ If someone or something is untraceable , it is impossible to find them. □ …a world where electronic crime is untraceable.
un|trained /ʌ ntre I nd/
1 ADJ Someone who is untrained has not been taught the skills that they need for a particular job, activity, or situation. □ It is a nonsense to say we have untrained staff dealing with emergencies. □ Our Intelligence Service was untrained, cumbersome, and almost wholly ineffectual.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a voice or a mind, for example, as untrained , you mean that it has not been developed through formal education or training. □ It was often said that he had the best untrained mind in politics.
un|tram|melled /ʌntræ m ə ld/ in AM, use untrammeled ADJ Someone who is untrammelled is able to act freely in the way they want to, rather than being restricted by something. [LITERARY ] □ The global credit crunch exposed the limits of untrammelled free markets. □ [+ by ] She thought of herself as a free woman, untrammelled by family relationships.
un|treat|ed /ʌ ntriː t I d/
1 ADJ [ADJ after v, ADJ n, v-link ADJ ] If an injury or illness is left untreated , it is not given medical treatment. □ If left untreated, the condition may become chronic. □ …the consequences of untreated tuberculosis.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Untreated materials, water, or chemicals are harmful and have not been made safe. □ …the dumping of nuclear waste and untreated sewage.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Untreated materials are in their natural or original state, often before being prepared for use in a particular process. □ All the bedding is made of simple, untreated cotton. □ In its untreated state the carbon fibre material is rather like cloth.
un|tried /ʌ ntra I d/ ADJ If someone or something is untried , they have not yet experienced certain situations or have not yet been tried out, so you do not know what they will be like. □ He was young and untried, with no reputation of his own. □ …a long legal battle through untried areas of law.
un|trou|bled /ʌ ntrʌ b ə ld/ ADJ If you are untroubled by something, you are not affected or worried by it. □ [+ by ] She is untroubled by the fact that she didn't win. □ …an untroubled night's sleep.
un|true /ʌ ntruː / ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If a statement or idea is untrue , it is false and not based on facts. □ The allegations were completely untrue. □ It was untrue to say that all political prisoners have been released. □ Such remarks are both offensive and untrue.
un|trust|wor|thy /ʌ ntrʌ stwɜː r ði/ ADJ If you say that someone is untrustworthy , you think they are unreliable and cannot be trusted. □ I think he is shallow, vain and untrustworthy. □ His opponents still say he's a fundamentally untrustworthy figure.
un|truth /ʌ ntruː θ/ (untruths /ʌ ntruː ðz/) N‑VAR An untruth is a lie. [FORMAL ] □ The Advertising Standards Authority accused estate agents of using blatant untruths. □ I have never uttered one word of untruth.
un|truth|ful /ʌ ntruː θfʊl/ ADJ If someone is untruthful or if they say untruthful things, they are dishonest and say things that they know are not true. □ He must not be untruthful, or a coward. □ Some people may be tempted to give untruthful answers.
un|tu|tored /ʌ ntjuː tə r d, [AM ] -tuː t-/ ADJ If someone is untutored , they have not been formally trained to do something, although they may be quite skilled at it. [FORMAL ] □ This untutored mathematician had an obsession with numbers. □ [+ in ] They had left school at fifteen and were quite untutored in writing.
un|typi|cal /ʌ nt I p I k ə l/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If someone or something is untypical of a particular type of person or thing, they are not a good example of the way that type of person or thing normally is. People sometimes say something is not untypical when they mean that it is quite normal. □ [+ of ] Anita Loos was in many respects untypical of the screenwriting trade. □ I believe our results are not untypical. ● un|typi|cal|ly /ʌ nt I p I kli/ ADV [ADV adj/-ed] □ Untypically for a man in that situation he became interested in Buddhism.
un|us|able /ʌ njuː zəb ə l/ ADJ Something that is unusable is not in a good enough state or condition to be used. □ Bombing had made roads and railways unusable.
un|used Pronounced /ʌ njuː zd/ for meaning 1 , and /ʌ njuː st/ for meaning 2 . 1 ADJ [ADJ n, ADJ after v, v-link ADJ ] Something that is unused has not been used or is not being used at the moment. □ …unused containers of food and drink.
2 ADJ If you are unused to something, you have not often done it or experienced it before, so it feels unusual and unfamiliar to you. □ [+ to ] Mother was entirely unused to such hard work.
un|usual ◆◇◇ /ʌnjuː ʒuəl/
1 ADJ If something is unusual , it does not happen very often or you do not see it or hear it very often. □ They have replanted many areas with rare and unusual plants. □ To be appreciated as a parent is quite unusual.
2 ADJ If you describe someone as unusual , you think that they are interesting and different from other people. □ He was an unusual man with great business talents.
un|usu|al|ly /ʌnjuː ʒuəli/
1 ADV [ADV adj] You use unusually to emphasize that someone or something has more of a particular quality than is usual. [EMPHASIS ] □ He was an unusually complex man. □ …this year's unusually harsh winter.
2 ADV You can use unusually to suggest that something is not what normally happens. □ Unusually among British prime ministers, he was not a man of natural authority. [Also + for ]
un|ut|ter|able /ʌnʌ tərəb ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] You can use unutterable to emphasize that something, especially a bad quality, is great in degree or intensity. [WRITTEN , EMPHASIS ] □ …unutterable rubbish. ● un|ut|ter|ably /ʌnʌ tərəbli/ ADV [usu ADV adj] □ I suddenly felt unutterably depressed.
un|vary|ing /ʌnveə ri I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as unvarying , you mean that it stays the same and never changes. □ …her unvarying refusal to make public appearances.
un|veil /ʌ nve I l/ (unveils , unveiling , unveiled )
1 VERB If someone formally unveils something such as a new statue or painting, they draw back the curtain which is covering it. □ [V n] …a ceremony to unveil a monument to the victims. ● un|veil|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the unveiling of a monument to one of the Croatian heroes of the past.
2 VERB If you unveil a plan, new product, or some other thing that has been kept secret, you introduce it to the public. □ [V n] Companies from across the country are here to unveil their latest models. ● un|veil|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the unveiling of a detailed peace plan.
un|waged /ʌ nwe I dʒd/ N‑PLURAL You can refer to people who do not have a paid job as the unwaged . [BRIT , BUSINESS ] □ There are special rates for the under 18s, full-time students, over 60s and the unwaged. ● ADJ Unwaged is also an adjective. □ …the effect on male wage-earners, unwaged females, and children.
un|want|ed /ʌ nwɒ nt I d/ ADJ If you say that something or someone is unwanted , you mean that you do not want them, or that nobody wants them. □ …the misery of unwanted pregnancies. □ She felt unwanted. □ Every year thousands of unwanted animals are abandoned.
un|war|rant|ed /ʌ nwɒ rənt I d, [AM ] -wɔː r-/ ADJ If you describe something as unwarranted , you are critical of it because there is no need or reason for it. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ Any attempt to discuss human rights was rejected as unwarranted interference. □ He accused the police of using unwarranted brutality.
un|wary /ʌnweə ri/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone as unwary , you mean that they are not cautious or experienced and are therefore likely to be harmed or deceived. [FORMAL ] □ With its quicksands the river usually drowns a few unwary visitors every season. ● N‑SING The unwary are people who are unwary. □ Specialist subjects are full of pitfalls for the unwary.
un|washed /ʌ nwɒ ʃt/
1 ADJ Unwashed people or objects are dirty and need to be washed. □ Leftover food and unwashed dishes cover the dirty counters.
2 PHRASE The unwashed or the great unwashed is a way of referring to poor or ordinary people. [HUMOROUS ] □ A scowling man briskly led the Queen away from the great unwashed.
un|wa|ver|ing /ʌnwe I vər I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe a feeling or attitude as unwavering , you mean that it is strong and firm and does not weaken. □ She has been encouraged by the unwavering support of her family. □ His attitude was unwavering.
un|wel|come /ʌnwe lkəm/
1 ADJ An unwelcome experience is one that you do not like and did not want. □ The media has brought more unwelcome attention to the Royal Family. □ A colleague made unwelcome sexual advances towards her.
2 ADJ If you say that a visitor is unwelcome , you mean that you did not want them to come. □ …an unwelcome guest. □ She was, quite deliberately, making him feel unwelcome.
un|wel|com|ing /ʌnwe lkəm I ŋ/
1 ADJ If someone is unwelcoming , or if they behave in an unwelcoming way, they are unfriendly or hostile when you visit or approach them. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ His manner was cold and unwelcoming. □ Both women were unwelcoming, making little attempt to put Kathryn at her ease.
2 ADJ If you describe a place as unwelcoming , you mean that it looks unattractive or difficult to live or work in. □ My room was cold and unwelcoming.
un|well /ʌ nwe l/ ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are unwell , you are ill. □ He had been riding in Hyde Park, but felt unwell as he was being driven back to his office late this afternoon.
un|whole|some /ʌ nhoʊ lsəm/
1 ADJ Unwholesome food or drink is not healthy or good for you. □ The fish were unwholesome and old.
2 ADJ If you describe someone's feelings or behaviour as unwholesome , you are critical of them because they are unpleasant or unnatural. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ My desire to be rich was an insane, unwholesome, oppressive desire.
un|wieldy /ʌnwiː ldi/
1 ADJ If you describe an object as unwieldy , you mean that it is difficult to move or carry because it is so big or heavy. □ They came panting up to his door with their unwieldy baggage.
2 ADJ If you describe a system as unwieldy , you mean that it does not work very well as a result of it being too large or badly organized. □ His firm must contend with the unwieldy Russian bureaucracy. □ …an unwieldy legal system.
un|will|ing /ʌ nw I l I ŋ/
1 ADJ [usu v-link, usu ADJ to-inf] If you are unwilling to do something, you do not want to do it and will not agree to do it. □ Initially the government was unwilling to accept the defeat. □ For months I had been either unwilling or unable to go through with it. ● un|will|ing|ness N‑UNCOUNT [oft N to-inf] □ …their unwillingness to accept responsibility for mistakes.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You can use unwilling to describe someone who does not really want to do the thing they are doing. □ A youthful teacher, he finds himself an unwilling participant in school politics. ● un|will|ing|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ My beard had started to grow, and I had unwillingly complied with the order to shave it off. □ Unwillingly, she moved aside.
un|wind /ʌ nwa I nd/ (unwinds , unwinding , unwound )
1 VERB When you unwind , you relax after you have done something that makes you tense or tired. □ [V ] It helps them to unwind after a busy day at work.
2 VERB If you unwind a length of something that is wrapped round something else or round itself, you loosen it and make it straight. You can also say that it unwinds . □ [V n] One of them unwound a length of rope from around his waist. □ [V ] The thread unwound a little more.
un|wise /ʌ nwa I z/ ADJ If you describe something as unwise , you think that it is foolish and likely to lead to a bad result. □ It would be unwise to expect too much. □ …a series of unwise investments in plastics and shipping. ● un|wise|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ She accepted that she had acted unwisely and mistakenly.
un|wit|ting /ʌnw I t I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a person or their actions as unwitting , you mean that the person does something or is involved in something without realizing it. □ We're unwitting victims of the system. □ It had been an unwitting blunder on the Prime Minister's part. ● un|wit|ting|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ He was unwittingly caught up in the confrontation.
un|work|able /ʌ nwɜː r kəb ə l/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you describe something such as a plan, law, or system as unworkable , you believe that it cannot be successful. □ There is the strong possibility that such cooperation will prove unworkable. □ Washington is unhappy with the peace plan which it views as unworkable.
un|world|ly /ʌ nwɜː r ldli/
1 ADJ If you describe someone as unworldly , you mean that they have not experienced many things in their life and do not know what sort of things usually happen to other people during their lives. □ She was so young, so unworldly. □ [+ about ] He is a little unworldly about such matters.
2 ADJ If you describe someone as unworldly , you mean that they are not interested in having a lot of money or possessions. □ Kitty's family was unworldly, unimpressed by power, or money.
un|wor|thy /ʌnwɜː r ði/
1 ADJ [ADJ to-inf] If a person or thing is unworthy of something good, they do not deserve it. [LITERARY ] □ [+ of ] He felt unworthy of being married to such an attractive woman.
2 ADJ If you say that an action is unworthy of someone, you mean that it is not a nice thing to do and someone with their reputation or position should not do it. [LITERARY ] □ [+ of ] His accusations are unworthy of a prime minister.
un|wound /ʌ nwaʊ nd/ Unwound is the past tense and past participle of unwind .
un|wrap /ʌ nræ p/ (unwraps , unwrapping , unwrapped ) VERB When you unwrap something, you take off the paper, plastic, or other covering that is around it. □ [V n] I untied the bow and unwrapped the small box.
un|writ|ten /ʌ nr I t ə n/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something such as a book that is unwritten has not been printed or written down. □ Publishers have bought the unwritten book of this trip for very large sums.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An unwritten rule, law, or agreement is one that is understood and accepted by everyone, although it may not have been formally or officially established. □ They obey the one unwritten rule that binds them all–no talking.
un|yield|ing /ʌnjiː ld I ŋ/
1 ADJ You describe someone as unyielding when they have very strong, fixed ideas about something and are unlikely to change their mind. [WRITTEN ] □ The authorities proved unyielding on one crucial opposition demand. □ His unyielding attitude on this subject was that since he had done it, so could everyone.
2 ADJ If a barrier or surface is unyielding , it is very solid or hard. [LITERARY ] □ …the troopers, who had to build roads through those unyielding mountains. □ He sat on the edge of an unyielding armchair, a cup of tea in his hand.
un|zip /ʌ nz I p/ (unzips , unzipping , unzipped )
1 VERB When you unzip something which is fastened by a zip or when it unzips , you open it by pulling open the zip. □ [V n] James unzipped his bag. □ [V ] This padded changing bag unzips to form a convenient and comfortable mat for nappy changing.
2 VERB To unzip a computer file means to open a file that has been compressed. [COMPUTING ] □ [V n] Unzip the icons into a sub-directory.
up
➊ PREPOSITION, ADVERB, AND ADJECTIVE USES
➋ USED IN COMBINATION AS A PREPOSITION
➌ VERB USES
➊ up ◆◆◆ The preposition is pronounced /ʌp/. The adverb and adjective are pronounced /ʌ p/. Up is often used with verbs of movement such as 'jump' and 'pull', and also in phrasal verbs such as 'give up' and 'wash up'. → Please look at category 22 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 PREP If a person or thing goes up something such as a slope, ladder, or chimney, they move away from the ground or to a higher position. □ They were climbing up a narrow mountain road. □ I ran up the stairs and saw Alison lying at the top. □ The heat disappears straight up the chimney. ● ADV [ADV after v] Up is also an adverb. □ Finally, after an hour, I went up to Jeremy's room. □ Intense balls of flame rose up into the sky. □ He put his hand up.
2 PREP If a person or thing is up something such as a ladder or a mountain, they are near the top of it. □ He was up a ladder sawing off the tops of his apple trees. □ The Newton Hotel is halfway up a steep hill. ● ADV [ADV after v] Up is also an adverb. □ …a research station perched 4000 metres up on the lip of the crater.
3 ADV [ADV after v] You use up to indicate that you are looking or facing in a direction that is away from the ground or towards a higher level. □ Paul answered, without looking up. □ Keep your head up, and look around you from time to time.
4 ADV [ADV after v] If someone stands up , they move so that they are standing. □ He stood up and went to the window. □ He got up and went out into the foyer.
5 PREP If you go or look up something such as a road or river, you go or look along it. If you are up a road or river, you are somewhere along it. □ A line of tanks came up the road from the city. □ We leaned on the wooden rail of the bridge and looked up the river. □ He had a relation who lived up the road.
6 ADV [ADV after v, be ADV ] If you are travelling to a particular place, you can say that you are going up to that place, especially if you are going towards the north or to a higher level of land. If you are already in such a place, you can say that you are up there. [mainly SPOKEN ] □ I'll be up to see you tomorrow. □ He was living up North. □ I live here now, but I've spent all my time up in Swaziland.
7 ADV [ADV after v] If you go up to something or someone, you move to the place where they are and stop there. □ [+ to ] The girl ran the rest of the way across the street and up to the car. □ On the way out a boy of about ten came up on roller skates. □ [+ to ] He brought me up to the bar and introduced me to Dave.
8 ADV [ADV after v, be ADV ] If an amount of something goes up , it increases. If an amount of something is up , it has increased and is at a higher level than it was. □ They recently put my rent up. □ Tourism is up, jobs are up, individual income is up. □ Germany's rate has also risen sharply, up from 3 percent to 4.5 percent. □ Over the decade, women in this category went up by 120%.
9 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are up , you are not in bed. □ Are you sure you should be up? □ Soldiers are up at seven for three hours of exercises.
10 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If a period of time is up , it has come to an end. □ The moment the half-hour was up, Brooks rose. □ When the six weeks were up, everybody was sad that she had to leave.
11 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] You say that a road is up when it is being repaired and cannot be used. [BRIT ] □ Half the road was up in Leadenhall Street, so their taxi was obliged to make a detour.
12 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If a baseball player is up , it is their turn to bat.
13 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If a computer or computer system is up , it is working. Compare down .
14 EXCLAM People sometimes say ' Up yours! ' as an insult when you have said something to annoy them or make them angry. [INFORMAL , RUDE ] □ 'Up yours,' said the reporter and stormed out into the street.
15 PHRASE If someone who has been in bed for some time, for example because they have been ill, is up and about , they are now out of bed and living their normal life. □ How are you Lennox? Good to see you up and about.
16 PHRASE If you say that something is up , you mean that something is wrong or that something worrying is happening. [INFORMAL ] □ What is it then? Something's up, isn't it? □ Mr. Gordon stopped talking, and his friends knew something was up.
17 PHRASE If you say to someone ' What's up? ' or if you tell them what's up , you are asking them or telling them what is wrong or what is worrying them. [INFORMAL ] □ 'What's up?', I said to him.—'Nothing much,' he answered. □ Let's sit down and then you can say what's up.
18 PHRASE If you move up and down somewhere, you move there repeatedly in one direction and then in the opposite direction. □ He continued to jump up and down like a boy at a football match. □ I strolled up and down thoughtfully before calling a taxi. □ There's a lot of rushing up and down the gangways.
19 PHRASE If you have ups and downs , you experience a mixture of good things and bad things. □ Every relationship has a lot of ups and downs. □ The organisation has had its ups and downs. □ [+ of ] …the ups and downs of parenthood.
20 PHRASE If something is on the up or on the up and up , it is becoming more successful. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ They're saying that the economy is on the up. □ People had money, opportunities, hope–things were on the up and up.
21 PHRASE If someone is on the up and up , they are honest and sincere. [AM , INFORMAL ] □ I'm a pretty good judge of men. If you're honest and on the up and up, I'll be able to tell it.
22 up in arms → see arm ➋
➋ up ◆◆◆ /ʌ p/
→ Please look at categories 9 to 12 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 PHRASE If you feel up to doing something, you are well enough to do it. □ Those patients who were up to it could move to the adjacent pool. □ His fellow-directors were not up to running the business without him.
2 PHRASE To be up to something means to be secretly doing something that you should not be doing. [INFORMAL ] □ Why did you need a room unless you were up to something? □ They must have known what their father was up to.
3 PHRASE If you say that it is up to someone to do something, you mean that it is their responsibility to do it. □ It was up to him to make it right, no matter how long it took. □ I'm sure I'd have spotted him if it had been up to me.
4 PHRASE Up until or up to are used to indicate the latest time at which something can happen, or the end of the period of time that you are referring to. □ Please feel free to call me any time up until half past nine at night. □ Up to 1989, the growth of per capita income averaged 1 per cent per year.
5 PHRASE You use up to to say how large something can be or what level it has reached. □ Up to twenty thousand students paid between five and six thousand dollars. □ It could be up to two years before the process is complete.
6 PHRASE If you say that something is not up to much , you mean that it is of poor quality. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ My own souffles aren't up to much.
7 PHRASE If someone or something is up for election, review, or discussion, they are about to be considered. □ A third of the government are up for re-election.
8 PHRASE If you are up against something, you have a very difficult situation or problem to deal with. □ The chairwoman is up against the greatest challenge to her position. □ They were up against a good team but did very well.
9 up to your ears → see ear
10 up to par → see par
11 up to scratch → see scratch
➌ up /ʌ p/ (ups , upping , upped )
1 VERB If you up something such as the amount of money you are offering for something, you increase it. □ [V n] He upped his offer for the company.
2 VERB If you up and leave a place, you go away from it, often suddenly or unexpectedly. □ [V and v] One day he just upped and left.
u p-and-co ming ADJ [ADJ n] Up-and-coming people are likely to be successful in the future. □ …his readiness to share the limelight with young, up-and-coming stars. □ He used the League Cup as a proving ground for up-and-coming players.
up|beat /ʌ pbiːt/ (upbeats )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If people or their opinions are upbeat , they are cheerful and hopeful about a situation. [INFORMAL ] □ The Home Secretary gave an upbeat assessment of the campaign so far. □ Neil's colleagues say he was actually in a joking, upbeat mood.
2 N‑COUNT In music, the upbeat is the beat before the first beat of the bar.
up|braid /ʌpbre I d/ (upbraids , upbraiding , upbraided ) VERB If you upbraid someone, you tell them that they have done something wrong and criticize them for doing it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] His mother summoned him, upbraided him, wept and prayed. □ [V n + for ] She was upbraided for the inaccuracies in her autobiography.
up|bring|ing /ʌ pbr I ŋ I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Your upbringing is the way that your parents or carers treat you and the things that they teach you when you are growing up. □ Martin's upbringing shaped his whole life. □ Sam's mother said her son had a good upbringing and schooling.
up|chuck /ʌ ptʃʌ k/ (upchucks , upchucking , upchucked ) VERB If you upchuck , food and drink comes back up from your stomach and out through your mouth. [AM , INFORMAL ] in BRIT, use throw up
up|com|ing /ʌ pkʌm I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n] Upcoming events will happen in the near future. □ …the upcoming Commonwealth Games. □ We'll face a tough fight in the upcoming election.
up|country /ʌ pkʌ ntri/ also up-country ADJ [ADJ n] Upcountry places are towards the middle or north of a large country, usually in the countryside. □ …a collection of upcountry hamlets. ● ADV [be ADV , ADV after v] Upcountry is also an adverb. □ I run a cattle station some miles up-country. □ We went up-country to Ballarat.
up|cycle /ʌ psa I k ə l/ (upcycles , upcycling , upcycled ) VERB If you upcycle something such as an old item of furniture, you repair, decorate, or change it so that it can be used again as something more fashionable or valuable. □ [V n] He hit upon the idea of upcycling weather-beaten sail cloth into jackets and bags. □ [V ] …some tips to help you upcycle. □ [V -ed] …upcycled furniture. ● up|cy|cling N‑UNCOUNT □ Upcycling is a growing trend.
up|date (updates , updating , updated ) The verb is pronounced /ʌpde I t/. The noun is pronounced /ʌ pde I t/. 1 VERB If you update something, you make it more modern, usually by adding new parts to it or giving new information. □ [V n] He was back in the office, updating the work schedule on the computer. □ [V ] Airlines would prefer to update rather than retrain crews. □ [V -ed] …an updated edition of the book.
2 N‑COUNT An update is a news item containing the latest information about a particular situation. □ She had heard the news-flash on a TV channel's news update. □ …a weather update. □ …football results update.
3 VERB If you update someone on a situation, you tell them the latest developments in that situation. □ [V n + on ] We'll update you on the day's top news stories.
up|end /ʌ pe nd/ (upends , upending , upended ) VERB If you upend something, you turn it upside down. □ [V n] He upended the can, and swallowed. □ [V -ed] …upended flower pots.
u p fro nt also up-front , upfront
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are up front about something, you act openly or publicly so that people know what you are doing or what you believe. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ about ] You can't help being biased so you may as well be up front about it. □ They tended to have a much more up-front attitude.
2 ADV [ADV after v] If a payment is made up front , it is made in advance and openly, so that the person being paid can see that the money is there. □ For the first time the government's actually put some money up front. □ Some companies charge a fee up front, but we don't think that's right. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Up front is also an adjective. □ The eleven percent loan has no up-front costs. □ …up-front charges.
up|grade (upgrades , upgrading , upgraded ) The verb is pronounced /ʌpgre I d/. The noun is pronounced /ʌ pgre I d/. 1 VERB [usu passive] If equipment or services are upgraded , they are improved or made more efficient. □ [be V -ed] Helicopters have been upgraded and modernized. □ [V -ed] …upgraded catering facilities. [Also V ] ● N‑COUNT [usu pl] Upgrade is also a noun. □ …equipment which needs expensive upgrades. □ [+ in ] …upgrades in the level of security.
2 VERB [usu passive] If someone is upgraded , their job or status is changed so that they become more important or receive more money. □ [be V -ed + to ] He was upgraded to security guard.
3 VERB If you upgrade or are upgraded , you change something such as your air ticket or your hotel room to one that is more expensive. □ [V ] You can upgrade from self-catering accommodation to a hotel. [Also V n]
up|heav|al /ʌphiː v ə l/ (upheavals ) N‑COUNT [usu adj N ] An upheaval is a big change which causes a lot of trouble, confusion, and worry. □ Wherever there is political upheaval, invariably there are refugees. □ [+ in ] Having a baby will mean the greatest upheaval in your life.
up|held /ʌphe ld/ Upheld is the past tense and past participle of uphold .
up|hill /ʌ ph I l/
1 ADV [ADV after v, be ADV ] If something or someone is uphill or is moving uphill , they are near the top of a hill or are going up a slope. □ He had been running uphill a long way. [Also + from ] ● ADJ [usu ADJ n] Uphill is also an adjective. □ …a long, uphill journey. □ The walk from the village to Greystones was uphill all the way.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If you refer to something as an uphill struggle or an uphill battle, you mean that it requires a great deal of effort and determination, but it should be possible to achieve it. □ It had been an uphill struggle to achieve what she had wanted. □ It's an uphill battle but I think we're going to win.
up|hold /ʌphoʊ ld/ (upholds , upholding , upheld )
1 VERB If you uphold something such as a law, a principle, or a decision, you support and maintain it. □ [V n] Our policy has been to uphold the law. □ [V n] …upholding the artist's right to creative freedom.
2 VERB If a court of law upholds a legal decision that has already been made, it decides that it was the correct decision. □ [V n] The crown court, however, upheld the magistrate's decision.
up|hold|er /ʌphoʊ ldə r / (upholders ) N‑COUNT An upholder of a particular tradition or system is someone who believes strongly in it and will support it when it is threatened. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …upholders of the traditional family unit.
up|hol|stered /ʌphoʊ lstə r d/ ADJ Upholstered chairs and seats have a soft covering that makes them comfortable to sit on. □ [+ in ] All of their furniture was upholstered in flowery materials.
up|hol|ster|er /ʌphoʊ lstərə r / (upholsterers ) N‑COUNT An upholsterer is someone whose job is to make and fit the soft covering on chairs and seats.
up|hol|stery /ʌphoʊ lstəri/ N‑UNCOUNT Upholstery is the soft covering on chairs and seats that makes them more comfortable to sit on. □ …white leather upholstery. □ Simon rested his head against the upholstery.
up|keep /ʌ pkiːp/
1 N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] The upkeep of a building or place is the work of keeping it in good condition. □ The money will be used for the estate's upkeep. □ [+ of ] The maintenance department is responsible for the general upkeep of the park.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] The upkeep of a group of people or services is the process of providing them with the things that they need. □ He offered to pay £100 a month towards his son's upkeep.
up|land /ʌ plənd/ (uplands )
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Upland places are situated on high land. □ …San Marino, the tiny upland republic. □ It's important that these upland farms continue to survive.
2 N‑PLURAL Uplands are areas of high land. □ …a deep valley ringed about by green uplands.
up|lift (uplifts , uplifting , uplifted ) The verb is pronounced /ʌpl I ft/. The noun is pronounced /ʌ pl I ft/. 1 VERB If something uplifts people, it helps them to have a better life, for example by making them feel happy or by improving their social conditions. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] We need a little something to help sometimes, to uplift us and make us feel better. □ [V n] Art was created to uplift the mind and the spirit. ● N‑VAR Uplift is also a noun. □ [+ for ] This victory was a massive uplift for us.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] In economics, an uplift in something such as the price of shares is an increase in their value. [BUSINESS ] □ [+ in ] …an uplift in the stock market. □ Its shares were down across the first quarter, but are now showing a 20 per cent uplift.
up|lift|ed /ʌpl I ft I d/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If people's faces or arms are uplifted , they are pointing them upwards or are holding them up. [LITERARY ] □ The men support the ballerinas, who pose with their uplifted arms. □ …her white, uplifted chin.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If something makes you feel uplifted , it makes you feel very cheerful and happy. □ …people whose presence left you feeling uplifted, happy and full of energy. □ [+ by ] …a smile so radiant that he felt uplifted by it.
up|lift|ing /ʌpl I ft I ŋ/ ADJ You describe something as uplifting when it makes you feel very cheerful and happy. □ …a charming and uplifting love story. □ I like a film to be uplifting.
up|load /ʌ ploʊd/ (uploads , uploading , uploaded ) VERB If you upload data, you transfer it from a computer or phone to another device or to the internet. [COMPUTING ] □ [V n] You can upload the video directly to your website. ● N‑VAR Upload is also a noun. □ Her blog features regular updates and picture uploads for her fans.
up|market /ʌ pmɑː r k I t/ also up-market ADJ [usu ADJ n] Upmarket products or services are expensive, of good quality, and intended to appeal to people in a high social class. [mainly BRIT ] □ Anne chose an upmarket agency aimed at professional people. □ …restaurants which years ago weren't quite so upmarket as they are today. ● ADV [ADV after v] Upmarket is also an adverb. □ Japanese firms have moved steadily upmarket. [in AM, usually use upscale ]
upon ◆◆◇ /əpɒ n/ In addition to the uses shown below, upon is used in phrasal verbs such as 'come upon' and 'look upon', and after some other verbs such as 'decide' and 'depend'. 1 PREP If one thing is upon another, it is on it. [FORMAL ] □ He set the tray upon the table. □ He bent forward and laid a kiss softly upon her forehead.
2 PREP You use upon when mentioning an event that is followed immediately by another event. [FORMAL ] □ The door on the left, upon entering the church, leads to the Crypt of St Issac. □ Upon conclusion of these studies, the patient was told that she had a severe problem.
3 PREP You use upon between two occurrences of the same noun in order to say that there are large numbers of the thing mentioned. □ Row upon row of women surged forwards.
4 PREP If an event is upon you, it is just about to happen. □ The long-threatened storm was upon us.
up|per ◆◇◇ /ʌ pə r /
1 ADJ [ADJ n, the ADJ ] You use upper to describe something that is above something else. □ There is a smart restaurant on the upper floor. □ Students travel on the cheap lower deck and tourists on the upper.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use upper to describe the higher part of something. □ …the upper part of the foot. □ …the upper rungs of the ladder.
3 PHRASE If you have the upper hand in a situation, you have more power than the other people involved and can make decisions about what happens. □ The government was beginning to gain the upper hand. □ It was easy to see who had the upper hand.
4 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The upper of a shoe is the top part of it, which is attached to the sole and the heel. □ Leather uppers allow the feet to breathe.
u p|per ca se ADJ [usu ADJ n] Upper case letters are capital letters. □ Most schools teach children lower case letters first, and upper case letters later. ● N‑UNCOUNT Upper case is also a noun. □ I'm wondering if 'per capita' ought to have upper case, or should it be lower case?
u p|per cla ss (upper classes ) also upper-class N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] The upper class or the upper classes are the group of people in a society who own the most property and have the highest social status, and who may not need to work for money. □ …goods specifically designed to appeal to the tastes of the upper class. ● ADJ [usu ADJ n] Upper class is also an adjective. □ All of them came from wealthy, upper class families.
upper|class|man /ʌ pə r klɑː smən/ (upperclassmen ) N‑COUNT An upperclassman is a junior or senior student in an American high school, college, or university. [AM ]
u p|per cru st also upper-crust N‑SING [with sing or pl verb] The upper crust are the upper classes. [INFORMAL ] □ …the kind of lifestyle of the privileged upper crust. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Upper crust is also an adjective. □ Sergeant Parrott normally spoke with an upper-crust accent.
upper|cut /ʌ pə r kʌt/ (uppercuts ) N‑COUNT An uppercut is a type of punch used in boxing. It is a hard upward blow to the chin.
U p|per Hou se (Upper Houses )
1 N‑PROPER In Britain, the Upper House is the House of Lords . □ [+ of ] The decision was announced after objections were raised in the Upper House of Parliament.
2 N‑PROPER In the United States, the Upper House is the Senate .
3 N‑COUNT [oft N -PROPER ] In other countries where the parliament is divided into two groups of members, the Upper House is the more senior of these groups, although it may not be more powerful. □ [+ of ] The Upper House of parliament is to meet today.
u p|per li p (upper lips )
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] Your upper lip is the part of your face between your mouth and your nose. □ The beginnings of a moustache showed on his upper lip.
2 N‑COUNT Your upper lip is the higher of your two lips. □ His upper lip was flat, but the lower one sagged.
upper|most /ʌ pə r moʊst/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] The uppermost part of something is the part that is higher than the rest of it. The uppermost thing is the highest one of a group of things. □ John was on the uppermost floor of the three-storey gatehouse. □ The rain spattered on the uppermost leaves. ● ADV [n ADV ] Uppermost is also an adverb. □ Lift the fish and carefully place it on a large board, flat side uppermost.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If something is uppermost in a particular situation, it is the most important thing in that situation. □ The economy appears to be uppermost in people's minds.
up|pi|ty /ʌ p I ti/ ADJ If you say that someone is uppity , you mean that they are behaving as if they were very important and you do not think that they are important. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ If you just tried to show normal dignity, you were viewed as uppity.
up|raised /ʌ pre I zd/ ADJ If your hand or an object is upraised , you are holding it up in the air. □ A soldier stood on the centre line of the road, his arm upraised. □ …the landlady's upraised glass.
up|right /ʌ pra I t/ (uprights )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ after v, v-link ADJ , oft ADJ n] If you are sitting or standing upright , you are sitting or standing with your back straight, rather than bending or lying down. □ [+ in ] Helen sat upright in her chair. □ [+ on ] Jerrold pulled himself upright on the bed. □ He moved into an upright position.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] An upright vacuum cleaner or freezer is tall rather than wide. □ …the latest state-of-the-art upright vacuum cleaners.
3 ADJ An upright chair has a straight back and no arms. □ He was sitting on an upright chair beside his bed, reading.
4 N‑COUNT You can refer to vertical posts or the vertical parts of an object as uprights . □ [+ of ] …the uprights of a four-poster bed.
5 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You can describe people as upright when they are careful to follow acceptable rules of behaviour and behave in a moral way. □ …a very upright, trustworthy man.
u p|right pia |no (upright pianos ) N‑COUNT An upright piano is a piano in which the strings are arranged vertically, rather than horizontally as they are in a grand piano.
up|ris|ing /ʌ pra I z I ŋ/ (uprisings ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] When there is an uprising , a group of people start fighting against the people who are in power in their country, because they want to bring about a political change. □ [+ against ] …a popular uprising against the authoritarian government. □ Isolated attacks in the north-east of the country have now turned into a full-scale uprising.
u p-ri ver also upriver ADV [ADV after v, be ADV ] Something that is moving up-river is moving towards the source of a river, from a point down the river. Something that is up-river is towards the source of a river. □ Heavy goods could be brought up-river in barges. □ He has a house down there but it's miles upriver. □ [+ of ] The vineyards of Anjou extend from west of Angers to up-river of Saumur. □ [+ from ] …La Reole, up-river from St-Macaire. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Up-river is also an adjective. □ …an upriver trip in Central Africa.
up|roar /ʌ prɔː r /
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N , oft in N ] If there is uproar , there is a lot of shouting and noise because people are very angry or upset about something. □ The announcement caused uproar in the crowd. □ The courtroom was in an uproar.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] You can also use uproar to refer to a lot of public criticism and debate about something that has made people angry. □ The town is in uproar over the dispute. □ The surprise announcement could cause an uproar in the United States.
up|roari|ous /ʌprɔː riəs/ ADJ When events or people are uproarious , they make people laugh in a very noisy way. [LITERARY ] □ He had spent several uproarious evenings at the Embassy Club. □ The noise of talk and laughter was uproarious. ● up|roari|ous|ly ADV [ADV after v, ADV adj] □ Bob laughed uproariously. □ …an uproariously funny story.
up|root /ʌpruː t/ (uproots , uprooting , uprooted )
1 VERB If you uproot yourself or if you are uprooted , you leave, or are made to leave, a place where you have lived for a long time. □ [V pron-refl] …the trauma of uprooting themselves from their homes. □ [V n] He had no wish to uproot Dena from her present home. □ [be V -ed] …refugees who were uprooted during the civil war.
2 VERB If someone uproots a tree or plant, or if the wind uproots it, it is pulled out of the ground. □ [V n] …fallen trees which have been uprooted by the storm. □ [V -ed] …uprooted trees.
up|scale /ʌ pske I l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Upscale is used to describe products or services that are expensive, of good quality, and intended to appeal to people in a high social class. [AM ] □ …upscale department-store chains such as Bloomingdale's and Saks Fifth Avenue. ● ADV [ADV after v] Upscale is also an adverb. □ T-shirts, the epitome of American casualness, have moved upscale. [in BRIT, use upmarket ]
up|set ◆◇◇ (upsets , upsetting , upset ) The verb and adjective are pronounced /ʌpse t/. The noun is pronounced /ʌ pset/. 1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are upset , you are unhappy or disappointed because something unpleasant has happened to you. □ After she died I felt very, very upset. □ Marta looked upset. □ She sounded upset when I said you couldn't give her an appointment. □ [+ by ] They are terribly upset by the break-up of their parents' marriage. [Also + about ] ● N‑COUNT Upset is also a noun. □ …stress and other emotional upsets.
2 VERB If something upsets you, it makes you feel worried or unhappy. □ [V n] She warned me not to say anything to upset him. □ [V pron-refl] Don't upset yourself, Ida. ● up|set|ting ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] □ [+ for ] Childhood illness can be upsetting for children and parents alike. □ I will never see him again and that is a terribly upsetting thought.
3 VERB If events upset something such as a procedure or a state of affairs, they cause it to go wrong. □ [V n] …a deal that would upset the balance of power in the world's gold markets. ● N‑COUNT Upset is also a noun. □ [+ in ] Markets are very sensitive to any upsets in the economic machine.
4 VERB If you upset an object, you accidentally knock or push it over so that it scatters over a large area. □ [V n] Don't upset the piles of sheets under the box.
5 N‑COUNT A stomach upset is a slight illness in your stomach caused by an infection or by something that you have eaten. □ Paul was unwell last night with a stomach upset. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Upset is also an adjective. □ Larry is suffering from an upset stomach.
6 to upset the applecart → see applecart
up|shot /ʌ pʃɒt/ N‑SING The upshot of a series of events or discussions is the final result of them, usually a surprising result. □ The upshot is that we have lots of good but not very happy employees.
up|side down /ʌ psa I d daʊ n/ also upside-down
1 ADV [ADV after v, n ADV ] If something has been moved upside down , it has been turned round so that the part that is usually lowest is above the part that is usually highest. □ The painting was hung upside down. □ Salter held the bag by the corners and shook it upside down. ● ADJ Upside down is also an adjective. □ His eyes were open and everything he saw was upside down. □ Tony had an upside-down map of Britain on his wall.
2 to turn something upside down → see turn
up|stage /ʌ pste I dʒ/ (upstages , upstaging , upstaged )
1 ADV [ADV after v, be ADV ] When an actor is upstage or moves upstage , he or she is or moves towards the back part of the stage. [TECHNICAL ] □ Upstage and right of centre, Robert Morris stands with his back to the audience. □ Position a camera upstage. □ They slowly moved from upstage left into the centre. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Upstage is also an adjective. □ …the large upstage box that he used for his production of King Lear.
2 VERB If someone upstages you, they draw attention away from you by being more attractive or interesting. □ [V n] He had a younger brother who always publicly upstaged him.
up|stairs /ʌ psteə r z/
1 ADV [ADV after v] If you go upstairs in a building, you go up a staircase towards a higher floor. □ He went upstairs and changed into fresh clothes.
2 ADV [be ADV , n ADV ] If something or someone is upstairs in a building, they are on a floor that is higher than the ground floor. □ The restaurant is upstairs and consists of a large, open room. □ The boys are curled asleep in the small bedroom upstairs.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] An upstairs room or object is situated on a floor of a building that is higher than the ground floor. □ Marsani moved into the upstairs apartment. □ …an upstairs balcony.
4 N‑SING The upstairs of a building is the floor or floors that are higher than the ground floor. □ [+ of ] Frances invited them to occupy the upstairs of her home.
up|stand|ing /ʌpstæ nd I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Upstanding people behave in a morally acceptable way. [FORMAL ] □ You look like a nice upstanding young man.
up|start /ʌ pstɑː r t/ (upstarts ) N‑COUNT You can refer to someone as an upstart when they behave as if they are important, but you think that they are too new in a place or job to be treated as important. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Many prefer a familiar authority figure to a young upstart.
up|state /ʌ pste I t/ ADJ [ADJ n] Upstate means belonging or relating to the parts of a state that are furthest to the north or furthest from the main city. [mainly AM ] □ …an idyllic village in upstate New York. ● ADV [ADV after v, n ADV ] Upstate is also an adverb. □ These buses will carry families upstate to visit relatives in prison.
up|stream /ʌ pstriː m/ ADV [ADV after v, be ADV , n ADV ] Something that is moving upstream is moving towards the source of a river, from a point further down the river. Something that is upstream is towards the source of a river. □ The water rose high enough for them to continue upstream. □ [+ of ] …the river police, whose headquarters are just upstream of the Isle St Louis. [Also + from ] ● ADJ [ADJ n] Upstream is also an adjective. □ Steps lead down to the subway from the upstream side.
up|surge /ʌ psɜː r dʒ/ N‑SING If there is an upsurge in something, there is a sudden, large increase in it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ in ] …the upsurge in oil prices. □ [+ of ] Saudi bankers say there's been an upsurge of business confidence since the end of the war.
up|swing /ʌ psw I ŋ/ (upswings ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] An upswing is a sudden improvement in something such as an economy, or an increase in an amount or level. □ [+ in ] …an upswing in the economy. □ Violent crime is on the upswing.
up|take /ʌ pte I k/
1 N‑SING A person's uptake of something is the amount of it that they use. [TECHNICAL ] □ The drug increases the number of red cells in the blood, enhancing oxygen uptake by 10 percent. □ [+ of ] …research in relation to the uptake of nitrate into vegetables.
2 PHRASE You say that someone is quick on the uptake when they understand things quickly. You say that someone is slow on the uptake when they have difficulty understanding simple or obvious things. □ She is not an intellectual, but is quick on the uptake. □ Carol was absent-minded and a little slow on the uptake.
u p-te mpo also uptempo ADJ [usu ADJ n] An up-tempo piece of music has a fast beat. □ …an up-tempo arrangement of 'Some Enchanted Evening'.
up|tick /ʌ pt I k/ (upticks ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] If there is an uptick in something, it increases. □ The worst that might happen is an uptick in inflation.
up|tight /ʌ pta I t/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Someone who is uptight is tense, nervous, or annoyed about something and so is difficult to be with. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ about ] Penny never got uptight about exams.
u p-to-da te also up to date
1 ADJ If something is up-to-date , it is the newest thing of its kind. □ …Germany's most up to date electric power station. □ …enhancing the system and bringing it up to date. □ This production is bang up-to-date.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are up-to-date about something, you have the latest information about it. □ We'll keep you up to date with any news.
u p-to-the-mi nute also up to the minute ADJ [usu ADJ n] Up-to-the-minute information is the latest information that you can get about something. □ …24 hours a day up-to-the-minute instant news. □ Computers give them up-to-the-minute information on sales and stocks.
up|town /ʌ ptaʊ n/ ADV [ADV after v] If you go uptown , or go to a place uptown , you go away from the centre of a town or city towards the edge. Uptown sometimes refers to a part of the city other than the main business district. [mainly AM ] □ He rode uptown and made his way to Bob's apartment. □ Susan continued to live uptown. □ There's a skating rink uptown. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Uptown is also an adjective. □ …uptown clubs. □ …a small uptown radio station. □ …uptown New York.
up|trend /ʌ ptrend/ N‑SING An uptrend is a general improvement in something such as a market or the economy. □ The company's shares have been in a strong uptrend. □ Many analysts think the dollar is on an uptrend.
up|turn /ʌ ptɜː r n/ (upturns ) N‑COUNT If there is an upturn in the economy or in a company or industry, it improves or becomes more successful. □ [+ in ] They do not expect an upturn in the economy until the end of the year. □ [+ in ] There has been a modest upturn in most parts of the industry.
up|turned /ʌ ptɜː r nd/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is upturned points upwards. □ …his eyes closed and his palms upturned.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is upturned is upside down. □ …upturned buckets. □ He clung to the upturned boat, screaming for help.
up|ward /ʌ pwə r d/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] An upward movement or look is directed towards a higher place or a higher level. □ She started once again on the steep upward climb. □ She gave him a quick, upward look, then lowered her eyes.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If you refer to an upward trend or an upward spiral, you mean that something is increasing in quantity or price. □ …the Army's concern that the upward trend in the numbers avoiding military service may continue.
u p|ward|ly mo |bile ADJ If you describe someone as upwardly mobile , you mean that they are moving, have moved, or are trying to move to a higher social position. □ The Party has been unable to attract upwardly mobile voters. ● N‑PLURAL The upwardly mobile are people who are upwardly mobile. □ …the large detached houses of the upwardly mobile.
up|wards /ʌ pwə r dz/ also upward
1 ADV [ADV after v, n ADV ] If someone moves or looks upwards , they move or look up towards a higher place. □ 'There,' said Jack, pointing upwards. □ They climbed upward along the steep cliffs surrounding the village. □ Hunter nodded again and gazed upwards in fear. □ Lie face upwards with a cushion under your head.
2 ADV [ADV after v] If an amount or rate moves upwards , it increases. □ …with prices soon heading upwards in high street stores. □ Unemployment will continue upward for much of this year. □ The share price is likely to leap upwards.
3 PHRASE A quantity that is upwards of a particular number is more than that number. □ [+ of ] …projects worth upwards of 200 million pounds. □ [+ of ] It costs upward of $40,000 a year to keep some prisoners in prison.
up|wind /ʌ pw I nd/ ADV [ADV after v, be ADV ] If something moves upwind , it moves in the opposite direction to the wind. If something is upwind , the wind is blowing away from it. □ …riding a bike upwind. □ [+ of ] The rich went to live in the west of London, upwind of the smell of people and industry. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Upwind is also an adjective. □ …big trees at the forest's upwind edge.
ura|nium /jʊre I niəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive metal that is used to produce nuclear energy and weapons.
ur|ban ◆◇◇ /ɜː r bən/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Urban means belonging to, or relating to, a town or city. □ Most of the population is an urban population. □ Most urban areas are close to a park. □ …urban planning. SYNONYMS urban ADJ
civic: …the businessmen and civic leaders of Manchester.
metropolitan: …the metropolitan district of Miami.
municipal: …the municipal library.
ur|bane /ɜː r be I n/ ADJ Someone who is urbane is polite and appears comfortable in social situations. □ She describes him as urbane and charming. □ In conversation, he was suave and urbane. ● ur|ban|ity /ɜː r bæ n I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] Fearey had all the charm and urbanity of the trained diplomat.
ur|bani|za|tion /ɜː r bəna I ze I ʃ ə n/ in BRIT, also use urbanisation N‑UNCOUNT Urbanization is the process of creating towns in country areas.
ur|ban|ized /ɜː r bəna I zd/ in BRIT, also use urbanised 1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An urbanized country or area has many buildings and a lot of industry and business. □ Britain is still far from being the most urbanised landmass in Europe. □ All the nice areas in Florida are becoming more and more urbanized.
2 ADJ An urbanized population consists of people who live and work in a town.
u r|ban my th (urban myths ) or urban legend N‑COUNT An urban myth is a strange or surprising story which many people believe, but which is not actually true.
ur|chin /ɜː r tʃ I n/ (urchins )
1 N‑COUNT An urchin is a young child who is dirty and poorly dressed. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ We were in the bazaar with all the little urchins watching us.
2 → see also sea urchin
Urdu /ʊə r duː, ɜː r -/ N‑UNCOUNT Urdu is an official language of Pakistan. Urdu is also spoken in India.
urge ◆◆◇ /ɜː r dʒ/ (urges , urging , urged )
1 VERB If you urge someone to do something, you try hard to persuade them to do it. □ [V n to-inf] They urged parliament to approve plans for their reform programme.
2 VERB If you urge someone somewhere, you make them go there by touching them or talking to them. □ [V n prep/adv] He slipped his arm around her waist and urged her away from the window. □ [V n] 'Come on, Grace,' he was urging her, 'don't wait, hurry up.'
3 VERB If you urge a course of action, you strongly advise that it should be taken. □ [V n + on ] He urged restraint on the security forces. □ [V n] We urge vigorous action to be taken immediately.
4 N‑COUNT [oft N to-inf] If you have an urge to do or have something, you have a strong wish to do or have it. □ He had an urge to open a shop of his own.
▸ urge on PHRASAL VERB If you urge someone on , you encourage them to do something. □ [V n P ] She had a strong and supportive sister who urged her on. □ [V P n] Visitors remember a lean, cheerful figure on horseback urging on his men.
ur|gent ◆◇◇ /ɜː r dʒ ə nt/
1 ADJ If something is urgent , it needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. □ There is an urgent need for food and water. □ He had urgent business in New York. ● ur|gen|cy N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] The urgency of finding a cure attracted some of the best minds in medical science. □ It is a matter of utmost urgency. ● ur|gent|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Red Cross officials said they urgently needed bread and water. □ The money was most urgently required.
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