upcoming
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
B1 adjective /ˈʌpˌkʌmɪŋ/

upcoming

Meaning
about to happen or appear
Example
The upcoming event will be held next week.
C1 adjective ʌnˈpær.ə.leld

Unparalleled

Meaning
Having no equal; unmatched, peerless, and supreme in quality or achievement.
Example
The unparalleled beauty of the Taj Mahal amazes visitors.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈspiːkəbl/

unspeakable

Meaning
too bad or shocking to be expressed in words
Example
The survivors endured unspeakable horrors during the war.
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.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnrɪˈkwaɪtɪd/

unrequited

Meaning
Not returned or reciprocated, especially in the context of love or affection.
Example
He suffered from unrequited love for years.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈhoʊli/

Unholy

Meaning
wicked; sinful; profane
Example
The unholy alliance between the two companies caused public outrage.
C1 verb /ʌnˈmɑːsk/

unmask

Meaning
to remove a mask or covering; to reveal the true identity, nature, or intentions of someone or something
Example
The investigation helped unmask the real culprit behind the crime.
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 adjective /ʌnˈwaɪz/

unwise

Meaning
Showing poor judgment; not sensible or prudent.
Example
It would be unwise to invest all your money in one company.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈkaʊntəbəl/

Uncountable

Meaning
too many to be counted; innumerable; infinite in quantity
Example
There are uncountable stars in the night sky.
C2 adjective /juːˈbɪkwɪtəs/

ubiquitious

Meaning
Present, appearing, or found everywhere.
Example
Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern society.
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 /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.
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 adjective /ʌnəˈfreɪd/

unafraid

Meaning
Not feeling fear; brave or courageous
Example
She walked into the dark room, unafraid of what might be inside.
B1 adjective /ʌnɪmˈplɔɪd/

Unemployed

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

Untiring

Meaning
continuing without stopping; persistent; tireless
Example
Her untiring efforts finally led to success.
B2 adverb /ˈɜːrdʒəntli/

urgently

Meaning
in a way that requires immediate attention or action
Example
The patient urgently needs medical attention.
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.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈbæləns/

Unbalanced

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

Unworthy

Meaning
not deserving respect or attention; lacking worth or merit
Example
He felt unworthy of such praise and recognition.
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 /ʌnˈtaɪmli/

Untimely

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

Universal

Meaning
applicable to all cases; existing everywhere
Example
Music is a universal language that everyone understands.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈtoʊld/

Untold

Meaning
very great in amount or degree; countless; immeasurable
Example
The earthquake caused untold damage to the city.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈklɪər/

unclear

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

unfriendly

Meaning
not kind or welcoming; hostile or cold in behavior or attitude
Example
The shop owner seemed unfriendly to new customers.
A1 preposition/conjunction /ʌnˈtɪl/

until

Meaning
up to the time of
Example
I will wait until you come back.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnfɔːrˈsiːn/

unforeseen

Meaning
Not anticipated or predicted; unexpected.
Example
The project faced unforeseen challenges that delayed its completion.
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.
B2 adjective ʌnˈprɛsɪˌdɛntɪd

unprecedented

Meaning
Never done or known before; without previous example.
Example
Unprecedented advancements in science changed human lives.
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.
B1 adjective /ˈjuːnɪfɔːrm/

Uniform

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

Undeniable

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

ultimately

Meaning
in the end, after everything else
Example
Ultimately, we decided to go ahead with the project.
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.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnəˈfɛktɪd/

unaffected

Meaning
Not influenced or touched by something; genuine and natural.
Example
He remained unaffected by the criticism and kept working hard.
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.
B2 noun /ˈjuː.sɪdʒ/

Usage

Meaning
the action of using something; the way in which words are used in a language
Example
The dictionary explains the correct usage of difficult words.
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.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnəˈsjuːmɪŋ/

unassuming

Meaning
Not pretentious or arrogant; modest.
Example
Despite his success, he remained unassuming and humble.
C2 verb /ˈʌndərˌmæn/

underman

Meaning
to supply with fewer workers or personnel than needed
Example
The hospital was undermanned during the flu outbreak.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈriːdəbl/

unreadable

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

unsettle

Meaning
To disturb or make someone feel anxious or uneasy.
Example
The sudden news unsettled the entire community.
B2 noun /ˈʌpˌkiːp/

up-keep

Meaning
The process or cost of maintaining something in good condition.
Example
The upkeep of the old house is very expensive.
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.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈjuzd/

Unused

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

Utmost

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

ubiquity

Meaning
The fact of appearing everywhere or of being very common.
Example
The ubiquity of smartphones has transformed communication.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈɜːrθli/

unearthly

Meaning
Strange or unnatural in a way that seems not of this world
Example
The forest was filled with an unearthly glow.
C2 adjective /ˌʌltrəˈmʌndeɪn/

ultramundane

Meaning
Relating to things beyond the physical world; supernatural or transcendental.
Example
Philosophers often discuss ultramundane realities beyond human perception.
A2 adjective /ʌnˈlʌki/

Unlucky

Meaning
having bad luck; unfortunate
Example
He was unlucky to miss the winning shot.
C2 verb /ʌpˈbreɪd/

upbraid

Meaning
To scold or criticize someone harshly.
Example
The teacher upbraided the student for being late again.
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.
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.
C1 adjective ʌnɪnˈhæbɪtəbəl

uninhabitable

Meaning
Not suitable or safe for people to live in.
Example
Rapid urbanization can make cities uninhabitable.
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 /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.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈkʌltʃəd/

Uncultured

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

understate

Meaning
To describe something as being less important or serious than it really is.
Example
He tends to understate his achievements.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈsuːtəbl/

Unsuitable

Meaning
not fitting or appropriate for a particular purpose or situation
Example
This formal dress is unsuitable for a casual beach party.
A2 noun /ˈʌndərweər/

underwear

Meaning
Clothing worn beneath outer clothes, typically next to the skin.
Example
He bought new underwear for the trip.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈdɔːntɪd/

Undaunted

Meaning
not intimidated or discouraged by difficulty, danger, or disappointment
Example
Despite the setbacks, she remained undaunted in pursuing her goals.
C2 adjective /juːˈnɪsənənt/

unisonant

Meaning
Sounding together or in harmony.
Example
The unisonant voices created a powerful effect.
C1 adverb /ʌnˈnætʃrəli/

unnaturally

Meaning
in a way that is not natural or normal; excessively or strangely
Example
He smiled unnaturally, making everyone feel uncomfortable.
B2 verb /ɜːrdʒ/

urge

Meaning
to strongly encourage or try to persuade someone to do something
Example
Doctors urge patients to exercise regularly.
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 /ˌʌnəˈteɪnəbl/

unattainable

Meaning
impossible to achieve, reach, or accomplish
Example
For many, becoming a professional athlete remains an unattainable dream.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnˈpɑr.də.nə.bəl/

Unpardonable

Meaning
too bad to be forgiven; inexcusable
Example
His betrayal of trust was an unpardonable offense.
C2 verb /juˈzɜrp/

usurp

Meaning
to take someone's position of power illegally or by force
Example
The general tried to usurp the king's throne.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈstɪntɪŋ/

unstinting

Meaning
given generously without holding back
Example
She received unstinting support from her family.
B2 noun ˈjuːnəti

unity

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

unthinking

Meaning
done without careful thought; automatic or thoughtless
Example
His unthinking remark hurt her feelings.
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 /ʌnˈendɪŋ/

Unending

Meaning
continuing forever; without end
Example
The unending rain made the day feel gloomy.
C1 verb /ˌʌn.dəˈtʃɑːrdʒ/

undercharge

Meaning
To charge less than the correct or fair amount.
Example
The shopkeeper accidentally undercharged me for the groceries.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈtræməld/

untrammeled

Meaning
Not restricted or hampered; free and unrestricted.
Example
She enjoyed untrammeled freedom in her new life abroad.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈflæpəbəl/

unflappable

Meaning
calm and composed, especially in difficult situations
Example
Despite the crisis, he remained unflappable and confident.
C2 adjective /ˈʌŋk.tʃu.əs/

unctuous

Meaning
Excessively flattering or ingratiating; oily in texture.
Example
His unctuous tone made everyone uncomfortable.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈsɜːrtən/

Uncertain

Meaning
not able to be relied on; not known or definite; not having reliable knowledge
Example
I am uncertain about my future career plans.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnəkˈnɒlɪdʒd/

unacknowledged

Meaning
Not recognized, admitted, or accepted; ignored or unnoticed
Example
Her contributions to the project went unacknowledged.
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 /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.
B2 adjective /ˌʌndɪˈsaɪdɪd/

Undecided

Meaning
not having made a decision; uncertain
Example
She was undecided about which college to attend.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈθɪŋkəbl/

Unthinkable

Meaning
impossible to conceive or imagine; beyond belief or consideration
Example
It was unthinkable that such a tragedy could happen in our peaceful town.
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 /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.
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 /ʌnprəˈfɛʃ.ən.əl/

Unprofessional

Meaning
not conforming to the standards expected in a particular profession
Example
His unprofessional behavior led to his dismissal from the company.
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 /ˈɜːrbən/

urban

Meaning
related to, characteristic of, or situated in a city or town
Example
Urban areas often have higher population density than rural areas.
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.
B2 adverb /ʌnˈdaʊtɪdli/

undoubtedly

Meaning
without a doubt, certainly
Example
He is undoubtedly the best player on the team.
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.
C2 verb /ʌnˈfɛtər/

unfetter

Meaning
to release from restraint or restriction; to free
Example
The new law will unfetter small businesses from excessive regulations.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈlaɪkli/

Unlikely

Meaning
not likely to happen; improbable
Example
It's unlikely to rain today with such clear skies.
C1 noun /ˈʌp.ʃɒt/

Upshot

Meaning
the final result or outcome of a series of events; conclusion
Example
The upshot of the meeting was a decision to postpone the project.
A2 adjective /ʌnˈtaɪdi/

Untidy

Meaning
not neat or orderly; messy and disorganized
Example
Her untidy room was filled with clothes scattered everywhere.
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 /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.
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.
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.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnˈnoʊ.tɪst/

Unnoticed

Meaning
not seen or observed; ignored
Example
His hard work went unnoticed by his manager.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnpriːpəˈzɛsɪŋ/

unprepossessing

Meaning
not attractive or appealing in appearance
Example
Despite his unprepossessing looks, he was very kind and intelligent.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈɡeɪnli/

ungainly

Meaning
Awkward, clumsy, or lacking grace in movement or appearance.
Example
The tall boy moved in an ungainly manner.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈkɒmən/

uncommon

Meaning
rare, unusual, or remarkable
Example
It is uncommon to see snow in this region.
B1 adjective /ˌʌnˈpeɪd/

Unpaid

Meaning
not paid for; without payment or salary
Example
She worked as an unpaid intern for six months.
B2 adjective /ʌnˌkənˈdɪʃ.ən.əl/

Unconditional

Meaning
not subject to any conditions; complete and absolute
Example
She offered her unconditional support to her friend in need.
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.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈwəʊntɪd/

unwonted

Meaning
Unusual, uncommon, or out of the ordinary.
Example
She spoke with an unwonted gentleness that surprised everyone.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈkɒn.ʃəs/

Unconscious

Meaning
not awake and aware of one's surroundings; done or existing without one realizing
Example
The patient was unconscious for several hours after the surgery.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈkwes.tʃən.ə.bl̩/

Unquestionable

Meaning
not able to be disputed or doubted; certain and beyond doubt
Example
Her honesty and integrity are unquestionable qualities.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈblʌʃɪŋ/

Unblushing

Meaning
showing no shame or embarrassment; boldly shameless
Example
He told the unblushing lie without any hesitation.
A2 verb /ʌpˈdeɪt/

update

Meaning
to make something more modern or current; to provide new information
Example
Please update your software regularly.
B2 adjective /ˌʌn.əkˈsep.tə.bəl/

Unacceptable

Meaning
not satisfactory or allowable; not acceptable
Example
The quality of work was completely unacceptable.
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.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsɜːrvɪsəbəl/

Unserviceable

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