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B1 adjective /ʌnˈeɪ.bəl/

Unable

Meaning
lacking the power, skill, or means to do something
Example
He was unable to attend the meeting.
C2 noun /ˈʌn.dɚˌstɔː.ri/

understory

Meaning
The layer of vegetation beneath the main canopy of a forest.
Example
The understory of a rainforest is home to small mammals and insects.
B1 verb /ˈʌpˌɡreɪd/

upgrade

Meaning
to raise something to a higher standard, improve
Example
We decided to upgrade the software to the latest version.
B2 adjective /ˈʌt.ɚ/

Utter

Meaning
complete; absolute; total
Example
The movie was an utter disaster at the box office.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnkənˈtroʊld/

uncontrolled

Meaning
not restrained or managed; lacking control
Example
The wildfire spread in an uncontrolled manner, causing widespread damage.
C1 noun /ʌnkənˈsɜːrn/

Unconcern

Meaning
lack of worry or interest; indifference
Example
She showed complete unconcern about the criticism.
C1 adjective + noun ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd ˈnɒlɪdʒ

unprecedented knowledge

Meaning
Information or understanding that has never been obtained or achieved before.
Example
Artemis will provide unprecedented knowledge about the solar system.
C1 verb /ˌʌndərˈsteɪt/

understate

Meaning
To describe something as being less important or serious than it really is.
Example
He tends to understate his achievements.
B1 verb /ʌnˈlɒk/

unlock

Meaning
to open something that is locked; to make something accessible or available
Example
She used the key to unlock the door.
C2 noun /juːˌtɪlɪˈtɛəriənɪzəm/

utilitarianism

Meaning
The ethical theory that actions are right if they are useful or for the benefit of the majority.
Example
Utilitarianism suggests that we should act to maximize overall happiness.
C1 verb /ʌnˈɜːθ/

unearth

Meaning
To dig up from the ground or to discover something hidden.
Example
Archaeologists unearthed ancient artifacts at the site.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈvɔɪst/

unvoiced

Meaning
not expressed in speech; in phonetics, a sound produced without vocal cord vibration
Example
The student kept her opinion unvoiced during the meeting.
C1 noun /ˈʌndərˌteɪkər/

undertaker

Meaning
A person whose job is to prepare the dead for burial and arrange funerals.
Example
The undertaker prepared the body for the funeral service.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈkwɒl.ɪ.faɪd/

Unqualified

Meaning
not having the necessary skills or qualifications; complete or absolute
Example
He was unqualified for the engineering position due to lack of experience.
B2 noun /ʌnəˈbɪləti/

unability

Meaning
the state of being unable to do something; incapacity
Example
His unability to solve the problem caused delays in the project.
A2 adjective /ʌnˈtaɪdi/

Untidy

Meaning
not neat or orderly; messy and disorganized
Example
Her untidy room was filled with clothes scattered everywhere.
B1 noun /ˈjuːs.fəl.nəs/

Usefulness

Meaning
the quality of being useful; practical value or helpfulness
Example
The usefulness of this tool became apparent during the project.
B2 verb /ɜːrdʒ/

urge

Meaning
to strongly encourage or try to persuade someone to do something
Example
Doctors urge patients to exercise regularly.
B2 noun /ˈɜː.dʒən.si/

Urgency

Meaning
the quality of requiring immediate action or attention; pressing importance
Example
The urgency of the situation required immediate medical attention.
C2 adjective /juːˈʒʊəriəs/

usurious

Meaning
Charging excessively high interest rates on loans.
Example
The bank was accused of offering loans at usurious rates.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈkuːθ/

uncouth

Meaning
Lacking good manners, refinement, or grace; awkward or rough.
Example
His uncouth behavior shocked the guests at the party.
C1 noun /ˌʌl.tɪˈmeɪ.təm/

Ultimatum

Meaning
a final demand or statement of terms, the rejection of which will result in retaliation
Example
The boss gave him an ultimatum: improve or be fired.
C1 verb /ʌnˈrævəl/

unravel

Meaning
To undo twisted or knitted threads; to solve or explain something complicated.
Example
The detective worked hard to unravel the mystery.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈwel.kəm/

Unwelcome

Meaning
not wanted or accepted; not invited or pleasant
Example
The unwelcome news ruined their vacation plans.
C1 adjective ʌnˈwɔːr.rən.tɪd

unwarranted

Meaning
Not justified or necessary; without good reason.
Example
His anger toward the staff was completely unwarranted.
B1 adjective /ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbəl/

Unbelievable

Meaning
impossible to believe; extremely surprising or remarkable
Example
The magician's performance was absolutely unbelievable.
B2 verb /ʌpˈhoʊld/

uphold

Meaning
to maintain or support a principle, law, or decision
Example
The judge promised to uphold justice at all costs.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈspɛərɪŋ/

unsparing

Meaning
Showing no mercy or generosity; harsh or severe.
Example
The critic was unsparing in his review of the play.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnˈɪntɪmeɪtɪŋ/

unintimating

Meaning
Not giving a hint or suggestion; not indicating.
Example
His unintimating tone gave no clue of his true feelings.
C1 adjective /ˈʌndərhænd/

underhand

Meaning
done secretly and dishonestly; deceitful
Example
The politician was accused of using underhand tactics to win the election.
B1 adjective /ˈjuːnɪfɔːrm/

Uniform

Meaning
consistent; identical; standardized
Example
All students must wear a uniform to school.
B2 adverb /ʌnˈkaɪndli/

unkindly

Meaning
in a cruel, harsh, or unsympathetic manner
Example
She spoke unkindly about her colleague during the meeting.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnəˈveɪləbəl/

unavailable

Meaning
Not able to be obtained, reached, or used; not present or accessible.
Example
The manager was unavailable to take calls during the meeting.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/

unchanging

Meaning
remaining the same over time; not changing
Example
Her love for her family was unchanging throughout the years.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈkaɪnd/

Unkind

Meaning
cruel; not nice or caring toward others
Example
It was unkind of him to make fun of her appearance.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈstɪntɪŋ/

unstinting

Meaning
given generously without holding back
Example
She received unstinting support from her family.
B1 adjective /ˌʌnˈɪntrəstɪŋ/

uninteresting

Meaning
not holding attention or curiosity; boring
Example
The lecture was uninteresting and difficult to stay focused on.
C1 noun /ʌnˈfeɪθfʊlnəs/

unfaithfulness

Meaning
the quality of being disloyal or not faithful; breach of trust or fidelity
Example
His unfaithfulness led to the end of their marriage.
B2 adjective /ˈʌl.tɪ.mət/

Ultimate

Meaning
being the best or most extreme example of its kind; final; last
Example
This is the ultimate test of your skills.
A2 adjective /ʌnˈkʌmf.tə.bəl/

Uncomfortable

Meaning
causing or feeling slight pain or physical discomfort; making someone feel embarrassed, awkward, or anxious
Example
The chair was so uncomfortable that I couldn't sit in it for more than ten minutes.
B2 adverb juːˈnæn.ɪ.məs.li

unanimously

Meaning
With the agreement of all people involved; without opposition.
Example
The proposal was unanimously accepted.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnrɪˈfaɪnd/

unrefined

Meaning
not processed or purified; lacking polish or sophistication
Example
The unrefined oil must be processed before it can be used as fuel.
C1 noun /ʌnɪmˈpɔːrtəns/

unimportance

Meaning
the state or quality of being insignificant or not important
Example
He dismissed the issue with a sense of unimportance.
C2 adjective ˌʌn.əˈseɪ.lə.bəl

unassailable

Meaning
Unable to be attacked, questioned, or defeated.
Example
An unassailable position ensures dominance.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈtaɪərɪŋ/

Untiring

Meaning
continuing without stopping; persistent; tireless
Example
Her untiring efforts finally led to success.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnəˈsweɪdʒd/

unassuaged

Meaning
Not made less intense or relieved; unrelieved.
Example
His grief remained unassuaged despite the passage of time.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈklɪər/

unclear

Meaning
not easy to understand; vague or ambiguous
Example
The instructions were unclear, so I asked for clarification.
B1 noun /ˈjuːnjən/

Union

Meaning
the action of joining or combining; a political unit formed from separate states
Example
The union of the two companies created a powerful corporation.
C2 verb /ʌnˈfrɒk/

unfrock

Meaning
To remove a priest from his position or deprive someone of a rank.
Example
The corrupt priest was unfrocked after the investigation.
B1 adjective /ʌnɪmˈplɔɪd/

Unemployed

Meaning
without a job; not having paid work
Example
He has been unemployed for six months now.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈkɛmpt/

unkempt

Meaning
Having an untidy or disheveled appearance.
Example
He looked unkempt after sleeping outdoors all night.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈfɪt/

Unfit

Meaning
not in good physical condition; unsuitable or inappropriate
Example
He was declared unfit for military service due to his poor health.
C2 noun /ˌjuːnɪˈtɛəriən/

unitarian

Meaning
A person who believes that God exists as one entity rather than as a Trinity; a member of a religious denomination that emphasizes individual freedom of belief.
Example
The Unitarian church is known for its inclusive and open-minded approach.
B2 adjective /ˌʌndərˈlaɪɪŋ/

underlying

Meaning
basic or hidden but important; forming the foundation of something
Example
The underlying reason for the conflict was never addressed.
B1 adjective /ˈɜːrdʒənt/

Urgent

Meaning
requiring immediate action or attention; pressing
Example
The patient needs urgent medical attention.
C1 noun /ˌʌnbɪˈliːf/

Unbelief

Meaning
lack of religious belief; skepticism or doubt
Example
His unbelief in the supernatural made him a skeptic.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈfeɪ.vər.ə.bəl/

Unfavourable

Meaning
not helpful or advantageous; adverse
Example
The weather conditions were unfavourable for our outdoor event.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnəbˈtruːsɪv/

unobtrusive

Meaning
not attracting attention; blending in without causing notice
Example
The security cameras are designed to be unobtrusive.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈsiːn/

Unseen

Meaning
not previously seen or noticed; invisible; hidden
Example
The unseen forces of nature can be very powerful.
A2 noun /ˈjuːnɪt/

unit

Meaning
an individual thing or person regarded as a single and complete entity
Example
Each unit in the production line is carefully tested.
C1 adjective /ˌʌndərɪkˈspoʊzd/

underexposed

Meaning
insufficiently exposed to light (in photography) or not given enough attention
Example
The photo was underexposed and looked too dark.
C2 verb /ʌpˈbreɪd/

upbraid

Meaning
To scold or criticize someone harshly.
Example
The teacher upbraided the student for being late again.
C2 adjective /ˈʌndjʊləs/

undulous

Meaning
Having a wavy surface or form.
Example
The artist painted the undulous sea at sunset.
B1 noun /juːˈten.səlz/

Utensils

Meaning
tools or implements used for cooking, eating, or serving food
Example
Please wash all the cooking utensils after preparing dinner.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈlɔːfl/

Unlawful

Meaning
not authorized by law; illegal
Example
The court declared the search unlawful.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈbæləns/

Unbalanced

Meaning
not balanced; lacking stability or equilibrium; mentally unstable
Example
The unbalanced table kept wobbling.
B2 noun /ʌnˈkaɪndnəs/

unkindness

Meaning
lack of kindness; cruel or inconsiderate behavior
Example
His unkindness hurt her feelings deeply.
A1 adjective /ˈjuːs.fəl/

Useful

Meaning
having a beneficial purpose; practical
Example
This tool is very useful for fixing problems.
B2 adverb /ʌnˈkɒnʃəsli/

unconsciously

Meaning
without being aware of one's actions or surroundings
Example
She unconsciously tapped her foot to the rhythm of the music.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnəˈfɪʃ.əl/

Unofficial

Meaning
not officially authorized or confirmed; informal
Example
The unofficial results showed a close race.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnsəˈfɪstɪˌkeɪtɪd/

unsophisticated

Meaning
Lacking worldly experience, refinement, or complexity.
Example
The villagers led an unsophisticated but happy life.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈdʒʌst/

Unjust

Meaning
not fair or right; morally wrong
Example
The punishment was unjust for such a minor offense.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnˈnoʊ.tɪst/

Unnoticed

Meaning
not seen or observed; ignored
Example
His hard work went unnoticed by his manager.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈskɪld/

Unskilled

Meaning
lacking technical training or ability; not requiring special skills
Example
Many unskilled workers are looking for training opportunities.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsəʊʃəbl/

unsociable

Meaning
not enjoying the company of others; avoiding social interaction
Example
He became unsociable after moving to a new city.
A2 conjunction /ʌnˈlɛs/

unless

Meaning
except if
Example
We won't go unless it stops raining.
C1 verb /ˌʌndərˈsɛl/

undersell

Meaning
to sell something at a lower price than competitors or to downplay the value of something
Example
The shop undersold its rivals by offering huge discounts.
A2 verb /ʌpˈdeɪt/

update

Meaning
to make something more modern or current; to provide new information
Example
Please update your software regularly.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnfɔːrˈsiːn/

unforeseen

Meaning
Not anticipated or predicted; unexpected.
Example
The project faced unforeseen challenges that delayed its completion.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈjuː.ʒu.əl/

Unusual

Meaning
not typical; strange; different from what is normal
Example
She wore an unusual dress to the party.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈfeɪθ.fəl/

Unfaithful

Meaning
not loyal or true to a spouse, partner, or commitment
Example
He was unfaithful to his wife for many years.
B2 adjective /ʌnfəˈmɪl.jər/

Unfamiliar

Meaning
not known or recognized; strange
Example
The city was unfamiliar to me since I had never been there before.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈhoʊli/

Unholy

Meaning
wicked; sinful; profane
Example
The unholy alliance between the two companies caused public outrage.
B2 verb /ʌnˈtaɪ/

untie

Meaning
to loosen or remove a knot or binding; to release something that is tied
Example
She untied the rope to free the boat.
C2 noun /ˈʌm.brə/

Umbra

Meaning
the fully shaded inner region of a shadow cast by an opaque object; the dark center of a sunspot
Example
During the eclipse, we stood in the moon's umbra.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈhɛlpfəl/

unhelpful

Meaning
not providing help or support; making a situation harder rather than easier
Example
His unhelpful attitude slowed down the entire project.
C1 adjective /ˌʌndərˈsteɪtɪd/

understated

Meaning
Presented in a subtle and restrained way.
Example
She wore an elegant but understated dress.
B1 verb /juˈnaɪt/

unite

Meaning
to join together or combine; to bring people or things together
Example
The crisis helped unite the community.
B2 adjective /ˌʌn.kəʊˈɒp.ər.ə.tɪv/

uncooperative

Meaning
not willing to help or work with others; unhelpful
Example
The witness was uncooperative and refused to answer questions.
A1 interjection /ʌ/

uh

Meaning
a sound people make when they hesitate or are unsure what to say next.
Example
Uh, I’m not sure if that’s the right answer.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈwɒn.tɪd/

Unwanted

Meaning
not desired or welcome; not wanted
Example
He felt like an unwanted guest at the meeting.
B1 adjective /ˌʌnsəkˈsesfl/

Unsuccessful

Meaning
not achieving desired aims or results; failing to accomplish a purpose
Example
His unsuccessful attempt to climb the mountain left him disappointed.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈtru/

Untrue

Meaning
not true; false; incorrect
Example
His statement about the incident was completely untrue.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnəˈsjuːmɪŋ/

unassuming

Meaning
Not pretentious or arrogant; modest.
Example
Despite his success, he remained unassuming and humble.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsoʊld/

unsold

Meaning
not sold; remaining without a buyer
Example
The unsold goods were returned to the warehouse.
A1 verb /juːz/

use

Meaning
to employ something for a purpose; to take advantage of
Example
I use my computer for work and entertainment.
C2 noun /ʌnˈkloʊðɪŋ/

unclothing

Meaning
the act or process of removing clothing
Example
The child quickly ran inside for unclothing after playing in the mud.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈprɒf.ɪ.tə.bl̩/

Unprofitable

Meaning
not yielding profit or gain; not producing financial benefit
Example
The unprofitable business was forced to close down after three years.
C2 adjective /ˌʌn.təˈwɔːrd/

untoward

Meaning
Unexpected and inappropriate or inconvenient.
Example
The meeting ended without any untoward incidents.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈsteɪbəl/

Unstable

Meaning
likely to change; not steady or secure; unsteady
Example
The unstable economy made people worried about their jobs.
B2 adjective /ʌnəˈfreɪd/

unafraid

Meaning
Not feeling fear; brave or courageous
Example
She walked into the dark room, unafraid of what might be inside.
C2 verb /ˌʌndərˈɡɜːrd/

undergird

Meaning
to provide support or foundation for; to strengthen
Example
Strong values undergird a healthy society.
C1 verb /ˌʌn.dəˈtʃɑːrdʒ/

undercharge

Meaning
To charge less than the correct or fair amount.
Example
The shopkeeper accidentally undercharged me for the groceries.
B2 noun /juːˈtɪl.ə.ti/

Utility

Meaning
the state of being useful, profitable, or beneficial; a public service
Example
The utility of solar panels increases with rising electricity costs.
B1 adverb /ʌnˈfɔːrtʃənətli/

Unfortunately

Meaning
used to express regret or disappointment about something
Example
Unfortunately, the weather was bad for our picnic.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈrɪəl/

unreal

Meaning
not real or not based on reality; exaggerated or imaginary
Example
The experience felt unreal after the sudden news.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈhɜːd/

Unheard

Meaning
not heard or listened to; not given a hearing; unknown or unfamiliar
Example
His complaints went unheard by the management.
B2 adverb /ʌnˈfɛərli/

unfairly

Meaning
In a manner that is not just, reasonable, or impartial
Example
He was treated unfairly by the committee.
B2 verb ˈjuːnɪfaɪ

unify

Meaning
To make or become united, uniform, or whole; to bring together into a single unit.
Example
Adolescents unify with peers for social acceptance.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnəˈdɔːrnd/

unadorned

Meaning
Plain and simple; not decorated.
Example
The room was unadorned, with only a table and a chair.
C1 noun /ˈʌp.tɜːn/

upturn

Meaning
An improvement or upward trend in a situation, especially in business or economy.
Example
The company experienced an upturn in sales last quarter.
C1 adjective /ˌjuːtɪlɪˈtɛəriən/

utilitarian

Meaning
Designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive; relating to the doctrine that actions are right if they are useful or for the benefit of a majority.
Example
The building had a simple utilitarian design.
B2 noun ˌjuːtɪlaɪˈzeɪʃən

utilization

Meaning
The action of making practical and effective use of something.
Example
Increased plastic utilization calls for better waste management.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈwaɪz/

unwise

Meaning
Showing poor judgment; not sensible or prudent.
Example
It would be unwise to invest all your money in one company.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈriːdəbl/

unreadable

Meaning
not able to be read or understood clearly; illegible
Example
The doctor’s handwriting was completely unreadable.
B2 adjective /ˈʌt.moʊst/

Utmost

Meaning
greatest; most extreme; maximum possible
Example
She showed utmost care while handling the fragile items.
C2 noun /ˌjuːzɜːrˈpeɪʃən/

usurpation

Meaning
The act of taking someone's power or property illegally or by force.
Example
The general's usurpation of the presidency led to political unrest.
C2 verb /ʌnˈkaʊtʃ/

uncouch

Meaning
to remove from a couch or to release from being laid down (rare/archaic usage)
Example
The surgeon attempted to uncouch the cataract.
C1 adjective /ˌʌn.əˈdʌl.tə.reɪ.tɪd/

Unadulterated

Meaning
not mixed or diluted with any different or extra elements; pure
Example
She felt unadulterated joy when she heard the news.
B2 adverb /ˈʌt.ə.li/

Utterly

Meaning
completely; absolutely; totally
Example
The movie was utterly boring and I fell asleep.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnprɪˈdɪktəbəl/

unpredictable

Meaning
not able to be predicted; changing suddenly and unexpectedly
Example
The weather in this region is highly unpredictable.