un|asked /ʌ nɑː skt, -æ skt/
1 ADJ An unasked question is one that has not been asked, although people are wondering what the answer is. □ She was undernourished, an observation that prompted yet another unasked question. □ Significant questions will go unasked.
2 ADJ [ADJ after v] If someone says or does something unasked , they say or do it without being asked to do it. □ His advice, offered to her unasked, was to stay home and make the best of things.
un|as|sail|able /ʌ nəse I ləb ə l/ ADJ If you describe something or someone as unassailable , you mean that nothing can alter, destroy, or challenge them. □ That was enough to give her an unassailable lead. □ His legal position is unassailable.
un|as|sist|ed /ʌ nəs I st I d/ ADJ [ADJ after v, ADJ n] If you do something unassisted , you do it on your own and no-one helps you. □ At other times, he'd force her to walk totally unassisted. □ …a mother who has had an unassisted delivery.
un|as|sum|ing /ʌ nəsjuː m I ŋ, [AM ] -suː m-/ ADJ If you describe a person or their behaviour as unassuming , you approve of them because they are quiet and do not try to appear important. [APPROVAL ] □ He's a man of few words, very polite and unassuming.
un|at|tached /ʌ nətæ tʃt/ ADJ Someone who is unattached is not married or does not have a girlfriend or boyfriend. □ I knew only two or three unattached men.
un|at|tain|able /ʌ nəte I nəb ə l/ ADJ If you say that something is unattainable , you mean that it cannot be achieved or is not available. □ There are those who argue that true independent advice is unattainable. □ …an unattainable dream.
un|at|tend|ed /ʌ nəte nd I d/ ADJ [ADJ after v, ADJ n, v-link ADJ ] When people or things are left unattended , they are not being watched or looked after. □ Never leave young children unattended near any pool or water tank. □ An unattended bag was spotted near the platform.
un|at|trac|tive /ʌ nətræ kt I v/
1 ADJ Unattractive people and things are unpleasant in appearance. □ I'm 27, have a nice flat, a good job and I'm not unattractive. □ …an unattractive and uninteresting city.
2 ADJ If you describe something as unattractive , you mean that people do not like it and do not want to be involved with it. □ [+ to ] The market is still unattractive to many insurers. □ It is not an unattractive option to make programmes for other companies.
un|author|ized /ʌ nɔː θəra I zd/ in BRIT, also use unauthorised ADJ If something is unauthorized , it has been produced or is happening without official permission. □ …the unauthorized use of a military vehicle. □ It has also been made quite clear that the trip was unauthorised.
un|avail|able /ʌ nəve I ləb ə l/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] When things or people are unavailable , you cannot obtain them, meet them, or talk to them. □ Mr Hicks is out of the country and so unavailable for comment. □ Basic food products are frequently unavailable in the state shops.
un|avail|ing /ʌ nəve I l I ŋ/ ADJ An unavailing attempt to do something does not succeed. □ Efforts to reach the people named in the report proved unavailing. □ He died after a brave but unavailing fight against a terminal illness.
un|avoid|able /ʌ nəvɔ I dəb ə l/ ADJ If something is unavoidable , it cannot be avoided or prevented. □ Managers said the job losses were unavoidable. □ The recession has resulted in an unavoidable increase in spending on unemployment benefit. ● un|avoid|ably /ʌ nəvɔ I dəbli/ ADV □ Prince Khalid was unavoidably detained in Saudi Arabia.
un|aware /ʌ nəweə r / ADJ [v-link ADJ , ADJ that] If you are unaware of something, you do not know about it. □ [+ of ] Many people are unaware of just how much food and drink they consume. □ She was unaware that she was being filmed.
un|awares /ʌ nəweə r z/ PHRASE If something catches you unawares or takes you unawares , it happens when you are not expecting it. □ Many were caught unawares by the health secretary's announcement. □ The suspect was taken unawares, without the chance to dispose of the evidence.
un|bal|ance /ʌ nbæ ləns/ (unbalances , unbalancing , unbalanced )
1 VERB If something unbalances a relationship, system, or group, it disturbs or upsets it so that it is no longer successful or functioning properly. □ [V n] The interplay between the new politics and the modern media will unbalance the political process.
2 VERB To unbalance something means to make it unsteady and likely to tip over. □ [V n] Her whole body began to buckle, unbalancing the ladder. □ [V n] Don't lean in–you're unbalancing the horse.
un|bal|anced /ʌ nbæ lənst/
1 ADJ If you describe someone as unbalanced , you mean that they appear disturbed and upset or they seem to be slightly mad. □ I knew how unbalanced Paula had been since my uncle Peter died.
2 ADJ If you describe something such as a report or argument as unbalanced , you think that it is unfair or inaccurate because it emphasizes some things and ignores others. □ U.N. officials argued that the report was unbalanced. □ …unbalanced and unfair reporting.
un|bear|able /ʌ nbeə rəb ə l/ ADJ If you describe something as unbearable , you mean that it is so unpleasant, painful, or upsetting that you feel unable to accept it or deal with it. □ [+ for ] War has made life almost unbearable for the civilians remaining in the capital. □ I was in terrible, unbearable pain. ● un|bear|ably /ʌ nbeə rəbli/ ADV [usu ADV adj/-ed] □ By the evening it had become unbearably hot.
un|beat|able /ʌ nbiː təb ə l/