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A2 preposition /əˈpɒn/

upon

Meaning
on or immediately after
Example
Upon hearing the news, he rushed to the hospital.
B2 verb /ˌʌndərˈskɔːr/

underscore

Meaning
to emphasize or highlight something
Example
The incident underscored the need for better safety measures.
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.
A2 noun /ˈjuːzər/

user

Meaning
a person who uses or operates something
Example
He is a frequent user of this app.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈrɪəl/

unreal

Meaning
not real or not based on reality; exaggerated or imaginary
Example
The experience felt unreal after the sudden news.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈnoʊn/

Unknown

Meaning
not known or identified; unfamiliar
Example
The author of this letter remains unknown.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈlaɪkli/

Unlikely

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

unresolved

Meaning
not solved or settled; remaining undecided or unclear
Example
The dispute remains unresolved despite several meetings.
C1 verb /ʌpˈruːt/

uproot

Meaning
To pull something out of the ground; to remove or displace completely.
Example
They uprooted the old tree from the garden.
B2 adjective /ˈjuː.nɪ.faɪd/

unified

Meaning
Made into a whole or joined together.
Example
A unified approach fosters better outcomes.
A2 verb /ʌpˈset/

upset

Meaning
to make someone worried, sad, or angry; to disturb
Example
The bad news upset everyone.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈwɪl.ɪŋ/

Unwilling

Meaning
not ready to do something; reluctant; not wanting to do
Example
He was unwilling to share his secret with anyone.
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 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.
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 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.
B1 adjective /ʌnɪmˈplɔɪd/

Unemployed

Meaning
without a job; not having paid work
Example
He has been unemployed for six months now.
C2 adjective /ˌʌn.təˈwɔːrd/

untoward

Meaning
Unexpected and inappropriate or inconvenient.
Example
The meeting ended without any untoward incidents.
A2 adjective /ˈjuːs.ləs/

Useless

Meaning
having no beneficial purpose; not useful
Example
This broken computer is completely useless.
C1 adjective /ʌlˈtɪəriər/

ulterior

Meaning
hidden or secret, often with a selfish motive
Example
He invited her with an ulterior motive.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnkənˈvɪnsɪŋ/

Unconvincing

Meaning
failing to persuade or impress; not believable or credible
Example
His excuse for being late was completely unconvincing.
C2 adjective /ˈʌndjʊləs/

undulous

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

Unblushing

Meaning
showing no shame or embarrassment; boldly shameless
Example
He told the unblushing lie without any hesitation.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈwɪtɪŋ/

unwitting

Meaning
Not aware of what is happening; done without realizing.
Example
She became an unwitting participant in the scam.
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.
B2 adjective /ˌʌndɪˈnaɪəbl/

Undeniable

Meaning
impossible to deny or dispute; clearly true
Example
The evidence of his guilt was undeniable.
C1 noun /ʌpˈhiːvəl/

upheaval

Meaning
a violent or sudden change or disruption to something
Example
The company faced a major upheaval after the sudden resignation of its CEO.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnɪnˈtenʃənəl/

Unintentional

Meaning
not done on purpose; accidental
Example
The damage to the car was unintentional.
C2 adjective /ˌʌltrəˈmʌndeɪn/

ultramundane

Meaning
Relating to things beyond the physical world; supernatural or transcendental.
Example
Philosophers often discuss ultramundane realities beyond human perception.
C1 noun /juːˈtoʊpiə/

utopia

Meaning
An imagined perfect society or place where everything is ideal.
Example
Many philosophers dreamed of creating a utopia for humanity.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnpriːpəˈzɛsɪŋ/

unprepossessing

Meaning
not attractive or appealing in appearance
Example
Despite his unprepossessing looks, he was very kind and intelligent.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈklɪər/

unclear

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

Unpaid

Meaning
not paid for; without payment or salary
Example
She worked as an unpaid intern for six months.
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 /ʌnˈɑːrmd/

unarmed

Meaning
Not equipped with or carrying weapons
Example
The police found the suspect unarmed during the search.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈriːzənəbəl/

unreasonable

Meaning
not guided by reason or fairness; excessive or extreme beyond what is acceptable
Example
The manager made an unreasonable demand that no one could realistically meet.
B2 adjective /ˈʌt.ɚ/

Utter

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

underhanded

Meaning
acting or done in a dishonest or secret way
Example
They exposed the company's underhanded dealings with its suppliers.
C1 adjective /ˌjuːnɪˈsɛljʊlər/

unicellular

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

Unnoticed

Meaning
not seen or observed; ignored
Example
His hard work went unnoticed by his manager.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈseɪvəri/

unsavory

Meaning
Disagreeable, unpleasant, or morally offensive.
Example
The politician was linked to an unsavory scandal.
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.
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.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈiːvən/

Uneven

Meaning
not level or smooth; not regular or consistent
Example
The road was uneven and full of potholes.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈsʌlid/

unsullied

Meaning
not spoiled or made impure; perfectly clean or pure
Example
His reputation remained unsullied despite the accusations.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈtɛnəbl/

untenable

Meaning
not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection
Example
The politician resigned when his position became untenable.
A1 preposition /ˈʌndər/

under

Meaning
in or to a lower position than something
Example
The cat is under the table.
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.
C2 adverb /ʌnˈɜːrɪŋli/

unerringly

Meaning
Without making any mistakes; always accurate
Example
The archer aimed unerringly at the target.
B2 adverb /ʌnˈnesəserəli/

Unnecessarily

Meaning
to a greater extent than is needed; without necessity
Example
Don't worry unnecessarily about the exam.
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 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 verb /ʌnˈkʌvə(r)/

uncover

Meaning
to reveal something that was hidden or secret
Example
The investigation uncovered new evidence.
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.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈlaɪk/

Unlike

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

Unilateral

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

unchanging

Meaning
remaining the same over time; not changing
Example
Her love for her family was unchanging throughout the years.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈsteɪbəl/

Unstable

Meaning
likely to change; not steady or secure; unsteady
Example
The unstable economy made people worried about their jobs.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈkʌltʃəd/

Uncultured

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

untempered

Meaning
not moderated or softened; lacking proper balance or control
Example
The untempered anger of the crowd caused chaos.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈtʃeɪst/

Unchaste

Meaning
not celibate; having engaged in sexual relations; lacking moral purity
Example
The conservative society considered her behavior unchaste and improper.
C1 noun /ˌʌnbɪˈliːf/

Unbelief

Meaning
lack of religious belief; skepticism or doubt
Example
His unbelief in the supernatural made him a skeptic.
B2 noun /ʌnˈrest/

Unrest

Meaning
a state of dissatisfaction and disturbance; social or political disorder
Example
The economic crisis led to widespread social unrest.
B2 adjective /ʌnhaɪˈdʒiːnɪk/

Unhygienic

Meaning
not clean; lacking proper sanitation
Example
The restaurant was closed due to unhygienic conditions in the kitchen.
C2 verb /ʌnˈfɛtər/

unfetter

Meaning
to release from restraint or restriction; to free
Example
The new law will unfetter small businesses from excessive regulations.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈtaɪmli/

Untimely

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

unbiased

Meaning
Not showing prejudice; impartial and fair.
Example
The report gave an unbiased view of the situation.
C1 verb /ʌnˈsɛtl/

unsettle

Meaning
To disturb or make someone feel anxious or uneasy.
Example
The sudden news unsettled the entire community.
B2 adjective /juːˈnæn.ɪ.məs/

Unanimous

Meaning
fully in agreement; shared by all
Example
The committee reached a unanimous decision.
C2 adjective /juːˈnɪsənənt/

unisonant

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

Unchallenged

Meaning
not disputed or questioned; accepted without opposition; having no rival
Example
He remained the unchallenged champion for five years.
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 /ˌʌnəˈteɪnəbl/

unattainable

Meaning
impossible to achieve, reach, or accomplish
Example
For many, becoming a professional athlete remains an unattainable dream.
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.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈʃʊr/

unsure

Meaning
not certain or confident; feeling doubt
Example
She felt unsure about the decision.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnɪkˈsɛpʃənəbl/

unexceptionable

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

Uncivil

Meaning
not polite or courteous; rude and discourteous in behavior
Example
His uncivil remarks during the meeting offended everyone present.
C1 noun /ˌjuːnɪˈfɔːrməti/

Uniformity

Meaning
the quality of being uniform; consistency or sameness
Example
The uniformity of the design created a pleasing visual effect.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈspɛərɪŋ/

unsparing

Meaning
Showing no mercy or generosity; harsh or severe.
Example
The critic was unsparing in his review of the play.
C2 adjective /ˈɜːrsaɪn/

ursine

Meaning
Relating to or resembling a bear.
Example
The man’s ursine strength amazed everyone.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnsəˈfɪstɪˌkeɪtɪd/

unsophisticated

Meaning
Lacking worldly experience, refinement, or complexity.
Example
The villagers led an unsophisticated but happy life.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈflæpəbəl/

unflappable

Meaning
calm and composed, especially in difficult situations
Example
Despite the crisis, he remained unflappable and confident.
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 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.
C1 verb /ʌnˈnɜːrv/

unnerve

Meaning
to make someone lose confidence, courage, or composure
Example
The hostile questions began to unnerve the witness.
B1 preposition, adverb, adjective /ˌʌndərˈniːθ/

underneath

Meaning
Located directly below or beneath something
Example
The keys were hidden underneath the pile of papers.
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.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈplɛz.ənt/

Unpleasant

Meaning
not giving or causing pleasure; disagreeable
Example
The medicine had an unpleasant taste.
B2 verb /ˌʌndərˈɡoʊ/

undergo

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

Universal

Meaning
applicable to all cases; existing everywhere
Example
Music is a universal language that everyone understands.
B2 adverb /ˈʌt.ə.li/

Utterly

Meaning
completely; absolutely; totally
Example
The movie was utterly boring and I fell asleep.
C2 verb /ʌnˈɑːrm/

unarm

Meaning
to remove weapons from someone or to deprive of means of attack or defense
Example
The soldiers were ordered to unarm the prisoners.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈθɪŋkɪŋ/

unthinking

Meaning
done without careful thought; automatic or thoughtless
Example
His unthinking remark hurt her feelings.
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.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈmɒdɪfaɪd/

unmodified

Meaning
not changed from its original form or state
Example
The data was used in its unmodified form for analysis.
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.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈfeər/

Unfair

Meaning
not right or just; treating people in a way that favors some over others
Example
It's unfair to blame her for something she didn't do.
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 /ʌnkənˈsɜːrn/

Unconcern

Meaning
lack of worry or interest; indifference
Example
She showed complete unconcern about the criticism.
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 ʌnˈwɔːr.rən.tɪd

unwarranted

Meaning
Not justified or necessary; without good reason.
Example
His anger toward the staff was completely unwarranted.
C1 adjective /ˌʌndərˈsaɪzd/

undersized

Meaning
Smaller than the usual or expected size.
Example
The undersized puppy struggled to keep up with its siblings.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈedjʊkeɪtɪd/

Uneducated

Meaning
lacking education; not having received formal schooling or training
Example
Many uneducated workers struggle to find well-paying jobs.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈfɔːltərɪŋ/

unfaltering

Meaning
Steady and resolute; not weakening or hesitating
Example
She continued with unfaltering determination.
A1 noun /ˈʌŋkəl/

uncle

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

unpredictability

Meaning
The quality of being impossible to predict or anticipate.
Example
The unpredictability of the weather made the trip uncertain.
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 /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.
B1 noun /ˈjuːnɪvɜːrs/

Universe

Meaning
all existing matter and space; the cosmos
Example
Scientists study the universe to understand its mysteries.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈkaʊntəbəl/

Uncountable

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