Undesirable
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B2 adjective /ˌʌndɪˈzaɪərəbl/

Undesirable

Meaning
not wanted or wished for; harmful or unpleasant
Example
The new policy had several undesirable consequences.
C2 noun /ˈjuːzjuːfrʌkt/

usufruct

Meaning
The legal right to use and enjoy the benefits of someone else’s property without owning it.
Example
The tenant had the usufruct of the land but not its ownership.
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.
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.
B1 adverb /ˌʌpsaɪd ˈdaʊn/

Upside-down

Meaning
with the upper part at the bottom; in or into a reversed position
Example
The picture was hanging upside-down on the wall.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnbɪˈliːvɪŋ/

unbelieving

Meaning
Not willing or able to believe; skeptical or doubtful
Example
She gave him an unbelieving look when he claimed to have met a celebrity.
C1 noun /ˈʌndərˌwɜːrld/

underworld

Meaning
The criminal world of organized crime or the mythical world of the dead.
Example
The detective spent years studying the secrets of the underworld.
B2 adverb /ˈʌltəmətli/

ultimately

Meaning
in the end, after everything else
Example
Ultimately, we decided to go ahead with the project.
C2 adjective /ˈʌŋk.tʃu.əs/

unctuous

Meaning
Excessively flattering or ingratiating; oily in texture.
Example
His unctuous tone made everyone uncomfortable.
B2 verb /ʌnˈfəʊld/

unfold

Meaning
to open or spread out something that was folded; to gradually reveal or develop
Example
She unfolded the letter carefully.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈbæləns/

Unbalanced

Meaning
not balanced; lacking stability or equilibrium; mentally unstable
Example
The unbalanced table kept wobbling.
C1 verb /ʌnˈkɔrk/

uncork

Meaning
To remove the cork from a bottle; to open a bottle, especially of wine
Example
He uncorked the wine and poured a glass for everyone.
B2 verb /ˌʌndərˈɛstɪmeɪt/

underestimate

Meaning
To judge something as less important or smaller than it really is.
Example
Never underestimate the power of teamwork.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈlaɪk/

Unlike

Meaning
different from; not similar to
Example
Unlike his brother, he prefers quiet activities.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈlaɪkli/

Unlikely

Meaning
not likely to happen; improbable
Example
It's unlikely to rain today with such clear skies.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈlɔːfl/

Unlawful

Meaning
not authorized by law; illegal
Example
The court declared the search unlawful.
A1 adjective /ˈjuːs.fəl/

Useful

Meaning
having a beneficial purpose; practical
Example
This tool is very useful for fixing problems.
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 noun /ˈʌndərˌteɪkɪŋ/

undertaking

Meaning
A task, project, or responsibility that someone agrees to do.
Example
Starting a new company is a difficult undertaking.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈɡreɪt.fəl/

Ungrateful

Meaning
not feeling or showing thanks for something done or given; not appreciating kindness
Example
She felt he was ungrateful for all the help she had given him.
C2 noun /ˈjuːnɪvəˌlɛns/

univalence

Meaning
The state of having a single valence or combining power, especially in chemistry.
Example
Hydrogen is characterized by its univalence in chemical reactions.
C1 adverb /ˌʌnkənˈvɛnʃənəli/

unconventionally

Meaning
in a way that is not based on or conforming to accepted standards or norms
Example
She dresses unconventionally, mixing bold colors and patterns that surprise everyone.
C1 verb /ʌnˈɜːθ/

unearth

Meaning
To dig up from the ground or to discover something hidden.
Example
Archaeologists unearthed ancient artifacts at the site.
B2 noun ˌɜːbənaɪˈzeɪʃən

urbanization

Meaning
The process by which towns and cities are formed and become larger as more people begin living and working in central areas.
Example
Urbanization leads to more developed infrastructure.
C1 noun ˌʌndərˈprɪvəlɪdʒd ɡruːps

underprivileged groups

Meaning
Groups of people who lack basic necessities or advantages that are available to other members of society.
Example
Underprivileged groups benefit from social initiatives.
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.
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.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈlɪmɪtɪd/

unlimited

Meaning
without any limits or restrictions
Example
The internet plan offers unlimited data for the whole month.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnkənˈvɪnsɪŋ/

Unconvincing

Meaning
failing to persuade or impress; not believable or credible
Example
His excuse for being late was completely unconvincing.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪəbəl/

unemployable

Meaning
Not able to be employed; lacking the skills or qualities necessary for employment
Example
Due to his criminal record, he was considered unemployable in most companies.
B1 noun /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/

Unemployment

Meaning
the state of being unemployed; lack of paid work
Example
The unemployment rate has increased significantly this year.
B2 verb /ˌʌndərˈɡoʊ/

undergo

Meaning
to go through something, especially something unpleasant or difficult
Example
She had to undergo surgery to recover.
B2 noun /ˌʌndəˈɡrædʒuət/

undergraduate

Meaning
a student who has not yet earned a bachelor's degree
Example
She is an undergraduate studying computer science.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈkleɪmd/

Unclaimed

Meaning
not claimed by anyone; not demanded or requested; abandoned or ownerless
Example
The unclaimed luggage was stored in the airport's lost property department.
C2 adjective /ʌnəˈpiːzd/

unappeased

Meaning
Not satisfied or calmed; still feeling discontent or anger
Example
Despite the apology, she remained unappeased.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈhɜːrt/

unhurt

Meaning
Not injured or harmed.
Example
She walked away from the accident unhurt.
A1 noun /ˈʌŋkəl/

uncle

Meaning
the brother of one's father or mother
Example
My uncle is visiting us next week.
C1 adjective /ˌʌndərˈsteɪtɪd/

understated

Meaning
Presented in a subtle and restrained way.
Example
She wore an elegant but understated dress.
C2 verb /ˌʌndərˈɡɜːrd/

undergird

Meaning
to provide support or foundation for; to strengthen
Example
Strong values undergird a healthy society.
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.
C2 verb /ˌʌn.dɪˈsiːv/

undeceive

Meaning
To free someone from a misconception or false belief.
Example
She tried to undeceive him about the false rumors.
C1 adjective ˌʌn.pəˈtɜːbd

unperturbed

Meaning
Not worried or disturbed by something; calm and composed.
Example
She remained unperturbed despite the challenges.
B2 verb /ʌnˈkʌvə(r)/

uncover

Meaning
to reveal something that was hidden or secret
Example
The investigation uncovered new evidence.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsɪvəlaɪzd/

Uncivilized

Meaning
not developed in terms of civilization; lacking social organization and culture; barbarous
Example
The explorers encountered an uncivilized tribe deep in the Amazon rainforest.
C1 noun /ˈʌndərdɒɡ/

underdog

Meaning
a competitor thought to have little chance of winning; a weaker party in a contest
Example
The underdog team surprised everyone by winning the championship.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈdʒʌst/

Unjust

Meaning
not fair or right; morally wrong
Example
The punishment was unjust for such a minor offense.
A1 verb /ˌʌndərˈstænd/

understand

Meaning
to know the meaning of something; to comprehend
Example
Do you understand the instructions?
B2 adverb /ˈʌt.ə.li/

Utterly

Meaning
completely; absolutely; totally
Example
The movie was utterly boring and I fell asleep.
A2 verb /ʌpˈdeɪt/

update

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

unintimating

Meaning
Not giving a hint or suggestion; not indicating.
Example
His unintimating tone gave no clue of his true feelings.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈpɒpjʊlə/

unpopular

Meaning
not liked or supported by many people
Example
The decision was unpopular with the public.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnˈkɔːrdɪneɪtɪd/

uncoordinated

Meaning
lacking coordination, not well-organized or clumsy in movement
Example
His movements were uncoordinated, making him prone to accidents.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈkʌltʃəd/

Uncultured

Meaning
lacking good manners, refinement, or education; uncivilized
Example
His uncultured behavior embarrassed everyone at the dinner party.
C2 adjective /ˈʌndjʊləs/

undulous

Meaning
Having a wavy surface or form.
Example
The artist painted the undulous sea at sunset.
C2 noun /ˈjuːʒəri/

usury

Meaning
The practice of lending money at unreasonably high interest rates.
Example
The law strictly prohibits usury.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈriːdəbl/

unreadable

Meaning
not able to be read or understood clearly; illegible
Example
The doctor’s handwriting was completely unreadable.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈduː/

Undue

Meaning
excessive; inappropriate; more than is necessary or proper
Example
The teacher complained about undue pressure from parents.
B1 adjective /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪd/

Unexpected

Meaning
not expected or anticipated; surprising
Example
The unexpected news left everyone speechless.
C1 adjective /ʌlˈtɪəriər/

ulterior

Meaning
hidden or secret, often with a selfish motive
Example
He invited her with an ulterior motive.
B1 adjective /juːˈniːk/

Unique

Meaning
being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else
Example
Every snowflake is unique in its pattern.
C1 noun /ˈʌndərˌɡɑːrmənt/

undergarment

Meaning
a piece of clothing worn under outer clothes, usually next to the skin
Example
He bought new undergarments for the wedding.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsɪvəl/

Uncivil

Meaning
not polite or courteous; rude and discourteous in behavior
Example
His uncivil remarks during the meeting offended everyone present.
B2 adjective /ˈʌpˌhɪl/

Uphill

Meaning
difficult; requiring great effort; sloping upward
Example
Learning a new language can be an uphill battle.
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.
A1 verb /juːz/

use

Meaning
to employ something for a purpose; to take advantage of
Example
I use my computer for work and entertainment.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈkʊkt/

uncooked

Meaning
Not cooked; in a raw state.
Example
Eating uncooked meat can be dangerous.
C1 noun /ˌʌnriˈælɪti/

unreality

Meaning
the state or quality of being unreal; lack of reality or truth
Example
The dreamlike setting gave the story a sense of unreality.
B2 adjective /ʌnprɪˈpɛrd/

Unprepared

Meaning
not ready or able to deal with something
Example
He was unprepared for the difficult exam.
C1 noun /ˈjuːnɪsən/

unison

Meaning
Simultaneous performance or utterance of action or speech.
Example
The choir sang in unison.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈʌndərhænd/

underhand

Meaning
done secretly and dishonestly; deceitful
Example
The politician was accused of using underhand tactics to win the election.
C2 adjective /ˌʌn.rɪˈdʒɛn.ər.ət/

unregenerate

Meaning
Not reformed or showing no signs of change; stubbornly refusing to reform or repent.
Example
He remained an unregenerate opponent of progress.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnɪˈmædʒənəbəl/

Unimaginable

Meaning
impossible to conceive; beyond imagination
Example
The scale of destruction was unimaginable until we saw it firsthand.
C1 verb /ˈʌndərkʌt/

undercut

Meaning
to sell at a lower price than a competitor; to weaken or undermine something
Example
The company tried to undercut its rivals by offering lower prices.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈtaɪmli/

Untimely

Meaning
happening at an inappropriate or inconvenient time; premature
Example
His untimely death at the age of thirty shocked everyone.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnprɪˈdɪktəbəl/

unpredictable

Meaning
not able to be predicted; changing suddenly and unexpectedly
Example
The weather in this region is highly unpredictable.
C1 adjective /ˈʌpərˌmoʊst/

uppermost

Meaning
situated at the highest place or most important
Example
Her family's safety was uppermost in her mind during the crisis.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnfɔːrˈsiːn/

unforeseen

Meaning
Not anticipated or predicted; unexpected.
Example
The project faced unforeseen challenges that delayed its completion.
A2 conjunction /ʌnˈlɛs/

unless

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

underlie

Meaning
to be the hidden cause or basis of something
Example
Strong cultural traditions underlie the community's practices.
B2 adjective /ˌʌndɪˈstɜːrbd/

Undisturbed

Meaning
not interrupted or interfered with; calm and peaceful
Example
She slept undisturbed for eight hours.
B1 verb /juˈnaɪt/

unite

Meaning
to join together or combine; to bring people or things together
Example
The crisis helped unite the community.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnkɒnstɪˈtuːʃənəl/

Unconstitutional

Meaning
not in accordance with a political constitution; violating constitutional principles
Example
The court declared the new law unconstitutional.
C1 verb /ˌʌndərˈvæljuː/

undervalue

Meaning
To assign too low a value or importance to something or someone.
Example
She felt that her boss consistently undervalued her contributions.
C2 adjective /ˈʌndjʊleɪtɪŋ/

undulating

Meaning
Having a smoothly rising and falling form or motion like waves.
Example
We drove through undulating hills.
B1 adjective /ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbəl/

Unbelievable

Meaning
impossible to believe; extremely surprising or remarkable
Example
The magician's performance was absolutely unbelievable.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈtaɪərɪŋ/

Untiring

Meaning
continuing without stopping; persistent; tireless
Example
Her untiring efforts finally led to success.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈeɪ.bəl/

Unable

Meaning
lacking the power, skill, or means to do something
Example
He was unable to attend the meeting.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈruːli/

Unruly

Meaning
difficult to control or manage; disorderly and disruptive
Example
The unruly crowd refused to follow the safety instructions.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈfɔːr.tʃən.ət/

Unfortunate

Meaning
having bad luck; regrettable or unlucky
Example
It was unfortunate that the meeting was cancelled at the last minute.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnbɪˈkʌmɪŋ/

unbecoming

Meaning
Not proper or appropriate for a person; unsuitable.
Example
His rude behavior was unbecoming of a leader.
C2 noun /ˈɜːrtʃɪn/

urchin

Meaning
a mischievous or poorly dressed child, often from the streets
Example
The ragged urchins played by the riverbank.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnrɪˈzɒlvd/

unresolved

Meaning
not solved or settled; remaining undecided or unclear
Example
The dispute remains unresolved despite several meetings.
B2 adverb /ʌnˈnesəserəli/

Unnecessarily

Meaning
to a greater extent than is needed; without necessity
Example
Don't worry unnecessarily about the exam.
B1 adjective /ˈʌpər/

upper

Meaning
higher in position or rank
Example
The upper floor of the building is under renovation.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈkɒm.prə.maɪ.zɪŋ/

Uncompromising

Meaning
unwilling to change one's views or to agree about something; showing an unwillingness to make concessions to others
Example
He was uncompromising in his demand for a full apology.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈseɪf/

Unsafe

Meaning
involving or causing danger or risk; not protected from harm
Example
It is unsafe to walk alone in this neighborhood at night.
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.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈklɪər/

unclear

Meaning
not easy to understand; vague or ambiguous
Example
The instructions were unclear, so I asked for clarification.
B2 noun /ʌnˈkaɪndnəs/

unkindness

Meaning
lack of kindness; cruel or inconsiderate behavior
Example
His unkindness hurt her feelings deeply.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈkɒnʃənəbl/

unconscionable

Meaning
shockingly unfair or unreasonable
Example
The company made unconscionable profits from the crisis.
C1 verb /ʌnˈroʊl/

unroll

Meaning
to open something that is rolled up; to spread out gradually
Example
She unrolled the map on the table to find the route.
B2 noun /ˈʌndərkləʊðz/

underclothes

Meaning
Clothing worn beneath outer clothes, such as underwear or lingerie
Example
He folded his underclothes neatly before packing them.
C2 verb /ʌnˈjoʊk/

unyoke

Meaning
To release from a yoke or to free from restraint or obligation.
Example
The farmer unyoked the oxen after a long day of work.
C2 adjective /ˌʌltrəˈmɒnteɪn/

ultramontane

Meaning
beyond the mountains, especially referring to support for the Pope over local church authority
Example
The debate highlighted the ultramontane position in church politics.
A1 adverb /ˈjuː.ʒu.ə.li/

Usually

Meaning
in most cases; generally; as a rule
Example
I usually wake up at 7 AM every morning.
A2 noun /ˌʌpˈsteəz/

Upstairs

Meaning
on or to an upper floor of a building; the upper floor or floors
Example
She went upstairs to her bedroom to rest.
B2 adverb /ʌnˈdaʊtɪdli/

undoubtedly

Meaning
without a doubt, certainly
Example
He is undoubtedly the best player on the team.
B2 adverb /ʌnˈsɜːrtənli/

uncertainly

Meaning
in a way that shows doubt or lack of certainty
Example
She glanced uncertainly at the complicated instructions.
C2 noun /ˈʌndərlɪŋ/

underling

Meaning
a person of low rank or importance; a subordinate
Example
The manager ordered his underlings to finish the task quickly.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈtru/

Untrue

Meaning
not true; false; incorrect
Example
His statement about the incident was completely untrue.
B2 adjective ʌnˈprɛsɪˌdɛntɪd

unprecedented

Meaning
Never done or known before; without previous example.
Example
Unprecedented advancements in science changed human lives.
C1 adjective /ˌjuːnɪˈsɛljʊlər/

unicellular

Meaning
Consisting of a single cell.
Example
Amoebas are unicellular organisms.
B2 adjective /ˈʌpˌraɪt/

Upright

Meaning
honest and morally correct; vertical or erect in position
Example
She is known for being an upright and honest businesswoman.
B2 verb /ˈjuːtɪlaɪz/

utilize

Meaning
to make practical or effective use of something
Example
The company aims to utilize solar energy for production.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnpriːpəˈzɛsɪŋ/

unprepossessing

Meaning
not attractive or appealing in appearance
Example
Despite his unprepossessing looks, he was very kind and intelligent.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnəˈweər/

Unaware

Meaning
not knowing or realizing; having no knowledge of something
Example
She was completely unaware of the danger.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈtiːtʃəbəl/

unteachable

Meaning
not able or willing to learn; resistant to instruction or guidance
Example
He was so stubborn that he became almost unteachable.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsəʊʃəbl/

unsociable

Meaning
not enjoying the company of others; avoiding social interaction
Example
He became unsociable after moving to a new city.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsɜːrvɪsəbəl/

Unserviceable

Meaning
not in working order; unable to be used; defective
Example
The old computer became unserviceable after the system crash.
C2 adverb /ʌnˈɜːrɪŋli/

unerringly

Meaning
Without making any mistakes; always accurate
Example
The archer aimed unerringly at the target.