English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
CEFR Level
impossible to believe; extremely surprising or remarkable
"The magician's performance was absolutely unbelievable."
not sure or confident about something; not clearly known or decided
"She felt uncertain about her future after graduation."
too many to be counted; innumerable; infinite in quantity
"There are uncountable stars in the night sky."
Located directly below or beneath something
"The keys were hidden underneath the pile of papers."
Able to be understood; reasonable or justifiable.
"Her reaction was understandable given the situation."
lacking education; not having received formal schooling or training
"Many uneducated workers struggle to find well-paying jobs."
without a job; not having paid work
"He has been unemployed for six months now."
the state of not having a paid job despite being able and willing to work
"High unemployment is a major issue in the country."
not anticipated or predicted; surprising
"We had an unexpected visitor last night."
not based on or behaving according to the principles of equality or justice
"It’s unfair to blame her for the team’s failure."
Having or marked by bad luck; unlucky.
"It was unfortunate that the meeting was canceled at the last minute."
used to express regret or disappointment about something that has happened or is going to happen
"Unfortunately, the event was canceled due to the rain."
not kind or welcoming; hostile or cold in behavior or attitude
"The shop owner seemed unfriendly to new customers."
the state of being unhappy; sadness or dissatisfaction
"Her constant unhappiness affected everyone around her."
consistent or the same in form, manner, or degree
"The students were required to wear a uniform to school."
not having much value, significance, or influence
"The detail seemed unimportant compared to the main issue."
not holding attention or curiosity; boring
"The lecture was uninteresting and difficult to stay focused on."
the action or fact of joining or being joined with others, especially to form a single unit
"The union of the two companies created a global leader."
Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else.
"Her dress was unique and caught everyone's attention."
to join together or combine; to bring people or things together
"The crisis helped unite the community."
the totality of known or supposed objects and phenomena throughout space; the cosmos
"The universe is vast and full of mysteries."
cruel; not nice or caring toward others
"It was unkind of him to make fun of her appearance."
differing from or not similar to
"Unlike his brother, he enjoys playing soccer."
not likely to happen or be true
"It is unlikely that he will arrive on time."
not needed or required
"The manager cut all unnecessary expenses to save costs."
not paid for; without payment or salary
"She worked as an unpaid intern for six months."
Not planned in advance; happening spontaneously or without organization.
"Unplanned urbanization causes severe problems."
not giving or causing pleasure; disagreeable
"The medicine had an unpleasant taste."
not liked or supported by many people
"The decision was unpopular with the public."
involving or causing danger or risk; not protected from harm
"It is unsafe to walk alone in this neighborhood at night."
not achieving desired aims or results; failing to accomplish a purpose
"His unsuccessful attempt to climb the mountain left him disappointed."
not true; false or incorrect
"The rumor about the company closing was completely untrue."
not being used; not having been used before
"There are many unused rooms in this old mansion."
not common or ordinary; remarkable or exceptional
"She has an unusual talent for solving complex problems."
not desired or welcome; not wanted
"He felt like an unwanted guest at the meeting."
not in good health; feeling sick or ill
"She has been feeling unwell since yesterday."
to raise something to a higher standard, improve
"We decided to upgrade the software to the latest version."
higher in position or rank
"The upper floor of the building is under renovation."