unsettle
All a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
All CEFR A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
Content locale
EN English BN Bengali HI Hindi ES Spanish FR French DE German RU Russian ZH Chinese JA Japanese
All Vocabulary Cards All Vocabularies
C1 verb /ʌnˈsɛtl/

unsettle

Meaning
To disturb or make someone feel anxious or uneasy.
Example
The sudden news unsettled the entire community.
C1 adjective /ˌʌndərˈsteɪtɪd/

understated

Meaning
Presented in a subtle and restrained way.
Example
She wore an elegant but understated dress.
B2 verb /ˈjuːtɪlaɪz/

utilize

Meaning
to make practical or effective use of something
Example
The company aims to utilize solar energy for production.
B2 noun ˈjuːnəti

unity

Meaning
The state of being united or joined as a whole.
Example
Unity among people led to victory.
B2 adjective /ˌʌndɪˈnaɪəbl/

Undeniable

Meaning
impossible to deny or dispute; clearly true
Example
The evidence of his guilt was undeniable.
B2 verb /ˌʌndərˈteɪk/

undertake

Meaning
to commit to and begin a task or project; to take on responsibility
Example
She decided to undertake a challenging project.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnfɔːrˈsiːn/

unforeseen

Meaning
Not anticipated or predicted; unexpected.
Example
The project faced unforeseen challenges that delayed its completion.
C2 verb /ʌpˈhiːv/

upheave

Meaning
to lift or raise something forcefully; to cause to rise suddenly
Example
The workers had to upheave the heavy stone to clear the path.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈnesəseri/

Unnecessary

Meaning
not needed; not required; pointless
Example
The meeting was unnecessary since all decisions were already made.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈstɪntɪŋ/

unstinting

Meaning
given generously without holding back
Example
She received unstinting support from her family.
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.
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.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsɜːrvɪsəbəl/

Unserviceable

Meaning
not in working order; unable to be used; defective
Example
The old computer became unserviceable after the system crash.
C1 noun /juːnəˈnɪməti/

Unanimity

Meaning
complete agreement among all members of a group
Example
The committee reached unanimity on the new policy.
C2 adjective /ɜːrˈbeɪn/

urbane

Meaning
showing polished manners, refinement, and sophistication
Example
He was an urbane gentleman who charmed everyone at the party.
A2 adjective /ʌnˈhæp.i/

Unhappy

Meaning
not happy; feeling sad or displeased; unfortunate or undesirable
Example
He was unhappy with the results of his exam.
B1 verb /juˈnaɪt/

unite

Meaning
to join together or combine; to bring people or things together
Example
The crisis helped unite the community.
C2 adjective /juːˈʒʊəriəs/

usurious

Meaning
Charging excessively high interest rates on loans.
Example
The bank was accused of offering loans at usurious rates.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈjuzd/

Unused

Meaning
not being used; not having been used before
Example
There are many unused rooms in this old mansion.
B2 adverb /ˈʌltəmətli/

ultimately

Meaning
in the end, after everything else
Example
Ultimately, we decided to go ahead with the project.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈlɔːfl/

Unlawful

Meaning
not authorized by law; illegal
Example
The court declared the search unlawful.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈkɛmpt/

unkempt

Meaning
Having an untidy or disheveled appearance.
Example
He looked unkempt after sleeping outdoors all night.
A1 preposition/conjunction /ʌnˈtɪl/

until

Meaning
up to the time of
Example
I will wait until you come back.
C2 noun juːˈbɪkwɪti

ubiquity

Meaning
The fact of appearing everywhere or of being very common.
Example
The ubiquity of smartphones has transformed communication.
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 adjective /ˌʌnəkˈnɒlɪdʒd/

unacknowledged

Meaning
Not recognized, admitted, or accepted; ignored or unnoticed
Example
Her contributions to the project went unacknowledged.
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.
A2 verb /ʌpˈset/

upset

Meaning
to make someone worried, sad, or angry; to disturb
Example
The bad news upset everyone.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈpɒpjʊlə/

unpopular

Meaning
not liked or supported by many people
Example
The decision was unpopular with the public.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsaɪtli/

unsightly

Meaning
Unpleasant to look at; ugly.
Example
The garbage pile created an unsightly view in the park.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈtʌtʃəbəl/

Untouchable

Meaning
not able to be touched or affected; beyond criticism or attack
Example
The CEO seemed untouchable despite the scandal.
B2 adjective /ˈʌt.ɚ/

Utter

Meaning
complete; absolute; total
Example
The movie was an utter disaster at the box office.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈkæni/

uncanny

Meaning
Strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way.
Example
She has an uncanny ability to predict the future.
B2 adjective /ʌnhaɪˈdʒiːnɪk/

Unhygienic

Meaning
not clean; lacking proper sanitation
Example
The restaurant was closed due to unhygienic conditions in the kitchen.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈraɪp/

Unripe

Meaning
not fully developed or matured; not ready to be eaten
Example
The unripe bananas will turn yellow in a few days.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈtræməld/

untrammeled

Meaning
Not restricted or hampered; free and unrestricted.
Example
She enjoyed untrammeled freedom in her new life abroad.
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.
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 adjective /ˌʌnəbˈtruːsɪv/

unobtrusive

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

Unseen

Meaning
not previously seen or noticed; invisible; hidden
Example
The unseen forces of nature can be very powerful.
C1 verb /ˌʌndəˈreɪt/

underrate

Meaning
to fail to recognize the full value or importance of something or someone
Example
Many people underrate the benefits of regular exercise.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈʌtərəbl/

unutterable

Meaning
Too great, intense, or awful to be expressed or described in words.
Example
She was filled with unutterable joy at the news of her success.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈwiːldi/

unwieldy

Meaning
Difficult to carry or move because of its size, shape, or weight.
Example
The box was too unwieldy to carry up the stairs.
B2 verb /ʌpˈhoʊld/

uphold

Meaning
to maintain or support a principle, law, or decision
Example
The judge promised to uphold justice at all costs.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈiːzi/

Uneasy

Meaning
worried; anxious; uncomfortable; restless
Example
She felt uneasy about walking alone at night.
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.
B2 adjective /ʌnprəˈdʌk.tɪv/

Unproductive

Meaning
not achieving much; not producing good results
Example
The meeting was unproductive and wasted everyone's time.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnprɪˈdɪktəbəl/

unpredictable

Meaning
not able to be predicted; changing suddenly and unexpectedly
Example
The weather in this region is highly unpredictable.
B2 noun /ˈʌndərˌteɪkɪŋ/

undertaking

Meaning
A task, project, or responsibility that someone agrees to do.
Example
Starting a new company is a difficult undertaking.
A2 adjective /ʌnˈlʌki/

Unlucky

Meaning
having bad luck; unfortunate
Example
He was unlucky to miss the winning shot.
A2 noun /ˈʌndərweər/

underwear

Meaning
Clothing worn beneath outer clothes, typically next to the skin.
Example
He bought new underwear for the trip.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈfeɪv(ə)rəbəl/

unfavorable

Meaning
not beneficial or advantageous; showing disapproval or opposition
Example
The proposal received an unfavorable response from the committee.
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 /ʌnˈseɪvəri/

unsavory

Meaning
Disagreeable, unpleasant, or morally offensive.
Example
The politician was linked to an unsavory scandal.
A2 verb /ʌpˈdeɪt/

update

Meaning
to make something more modern or current; to provide new information
Example
Please update your software regularly.
B2 adverb /ˈɜːrdʒəntli/

urgently

Meaning
in a way that requires immediate attention or action
Example
The patient urgently needs medical attention.
C1 noun /ˈʌndərˌstʌdi/

understudy

Meaning
An actor who learns another's role to act as a replacement if needed.
Example
The understudy performed when the lead actor fell ill.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈlaɪk/

Unlike

Meaning
different from; not similar to
Example
Unlike his brother, he prefers quiet activities.
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.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈɡɑː.dɪd/

Unguarded

Meaning
not protected or defended; careless about revealing private thoughts or information
Example
In an unguarded moment, she revealed her true feelings about the project.
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.
C2 verb /ˈʌndərˌmæn/

underman

Meaning
to supply with fewer workers or personnel than needed
Example
The hospital was undermanned during the flu outbreak.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈfɛtərd/

unfettered

Meaning
not restricted or confined; free
Example
The artist enjoyed unfettered freedom of expression.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsiːmli/

unseemly

Meaning
Not proper or appropriate in behavior or appearance; unbecoming.
Example
His unseemly remarks embarrassed everyone at the dinner table.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsəʊʃəbl/

unsociable

Meaning
not enjoying the company of others; avoiding social interaction
Example
He became unsociable after moving to a new city.
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.
B1 verb /ʌnˈpæk/

unpack

Meaning
to remove items from a container; to explain or analyze something in detail
Example
After arriving home, she began to unpack her suitcase.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsəʊʃəl/

unsocial

Meaning
not enjoying the company of others; avoiding social interaction; contrary to social norms
Example
He prefers unsocial hours so he can work alone without interruptions.
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 /ʌnˈtoʊld/

Untold

Meaning
very great in amount or degree; countless; immeasurable
Example
The earthquake caused untold damage to the city.
C2 noun /ɜːrˈbænɪti/

urbanity

Meaning
refined courtesy, elegance, and sophistication in manner
Example
Her urbanity made her popular among diplomats and leaders.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈnoʊn/

Unknown

Meaning
not known or identified; unfamiliar
Example
The author of this letter remains unknown.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈlɪmɪtɪd/

unlimited

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

unpleasantly

Meaning
in a way that causes discomfort, annoyance, or displeasure; in an unfriendly or disagreeable manner
Example
The room was unpleasantly hot during the afternoon.
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.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnɪnˈfɔːrmd/

uninformed

Meaning
lacking knowledge or awareness about a particular subject; not educated or informed
Example
The decision was made by an uninformed committee.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈeɪ.bəl/

Unable

Meaning
lacking the power, skill, or means to do something
Example
He was unable to attend the meeting.
B2 adverb juːˈnæn.ɪ.məs.li

unanimously

Meaning
With the agreement of all people involved; without opposition.
Example
The proposal was unanimously accepted.
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.
B2 adverb /ʌnˈfɛərli/

unfairly

Meaning
In a manner that is not just, reasonable, or impartial
Example
He was treated unfairly by the committee.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈɒnəd/

unhonoured

Meaning
not respected or given the recognition that is deserved; treated without honor
Example
He felt unhonoured after his years of service were ignored.
C1 adjective /ʌlˈtɪəriər/

ulterior

Meaning
hidden or secret, often with a selfish motive
Example
He invited her with an ulterior motive.
A2 noun /ˈʌndərwɛr/

Under wear

Meaning
clothing worn under other clothes, next to the skin
Example
She bought new underwear from the department store.
C2 adjective /ʌkˈsɔːriəs/

uxorious

Meaning
excessively fond of or submissive to one's wife
Example
He was so uxorious that he agreed with everything his wife said.
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.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈflɛdʒd/

unfledged

Meaning
Inexperienced, immature, or not fully developed.
Example
The unfledged writer struggled to complete his first novel.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnɪkˈsɛpʃənəbl/

unexceptionable

Meaning
Not open to objection; acceptable and unobjectionable
Example
His behavior was unexceptionable throughout the event.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈberəbəl/

Unbearable

Meaning
too painful, annoying, or unpleasant to tolerate; impossible to endure
Example
The heat in the desert was unbearable.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈbraɪdld/

unbridled

Meaning
Uncontrolled and unrestrained.
Example
The protesters showed unbridled enthusiasm for change.
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.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnpriːpəˈzɛsɪŋ/

unprepossessing

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

Unending

Meaning
continuing forever; without end
Example
The unending rain made the day feel gloomy.
C1 noun /ˌjuːnɪˈfɔːrməti/

Uniformity

Meaning
the quality of being uniform; consistency or sameness
Example
The uniformity of the design created a pleasing visual effect.
C1 adjective ʌnˈskruːpjʊləs

unscrupulous

Meaning
Having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair.
Example
Unscrupulous peers can lead adolescents to delinquency.
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.
C1 adjective /ˌjuːnɪˈsɛljʊlər/

unicellular

Meaning
Consisting of a single cell.
Example
Amoebas are unicellular organisms.
C1 verb /ʌnˈɜːθ/

unearth

Meaning
To dig up from the ground or to discover something hidden.
Example
Archaeologists unearthed ancient artifacts at the site.
A1 adverb /ʌp/

up

Meaning
towards a higher position or level
Example
He climbed up the ladder quickly.
A2 adjective /ˈjuːs.ləs/

Useless

Meaning
having no beneficial purpose; not useful
Example
This broken computer is completely useless.
B1 verb /ʌnˈræp/

unwrap

Meaning
remove wrapping or covering from something; reveal something gradually or clearly
Example
She carefully unwrapped the gift with excitement.
C1 adjective /ˌjuːnɪˈlætərəl/

Unilateral

Meaning
one-sided; involving only one party
Example
The country made a unilateral decision to withdraw from the treaty.
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.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈruːli/

Unruly

Meaning
difficult to control or manage; disorderly and disruptive
Example
The unruly crowd refused to follow the safety instructions.
A2 preposition /əˈpɒn/

upon

Meaning
on or immediately after
Example
Upon hearing the news, he rushed to the hospital.
B1 adjective /ʌnɪmˈplɔɪd/

Unemployed

Meaning
without a job; not having paid work
Example
He has been unemployed for six months now.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈfeɪ.vər.ə.bəl/

Unfavourable

Meaning
not helpful or advantageous; adverse
Example
The weather conditions were unfavourable for our outdoor event.
B2 verb /ˌʌndərˈmaɪn/

undermine

Meaning
to gradually weaken or damage something or someone
Example
Constant criticism can undermine a child's confidence.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈriːdəbl/

unreadable

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

unconventional

Meaning
not based on or conforming to what is generally done or believed
Example
Her unconventional approach to teaching inspired her students to think creatively.
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.
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 adjective /ˌʌnfɔːrθˈkʌmɪŋ/

unforthcoming

Meaning
Not willing to talk or provide information; uncooperative.
Example
The witness was unforthcoming about what he had seen.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnsəˈfɪstɪˌkeɪtɪd/

unsophisticated

Meaning
Lacking worldly experience, refinement, or complexity.
Example
The villagers led an unsophisticated but happy life.
C1 verb /ʌnˈnɜːrv/

unnerve

Meaning
to make someone lose confidence, courage, or composure
Example
The hostile questions began to unnerve the witness.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnəˈfɪʃ.əl/

Unofficial

Meaning
not officially authorized or confirmed; informal
Example
The unofficial results showed a close race.
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.
C2 noun /juːˈkeɪs/

ukase

Meaning
An authoritative decree or order, especially one issued by a sovereign or government.
Example
The czar issued a ukase restricting the freedom of the press.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈklɪər/

unclear

Meaning
not easy to understand; vague or ambiguous
Example
The instructions were unclear, so I asked for clarification.
C2 verb /ˈʌndərˌraɪt/

underwrite

Meaning
To guarantee financial support, especially by agreeing to cover losses or risks; in insurance, to assess and accept risks.
Example
The bank agreed to underwrite the company's new bond issue.
C1 noun /ˌʌnbɪˈliːf/

Unbelief

Meaning
lack of religious belief; skepticism or doubt
Example
His unbelief in the supernatural made him a skeptic.