1 ADJ If something is unusual , it does not happen very often or you do not see it or hear it very often. □ They have replanted many areas with rare and unusual plants. □ To be appreciated as a parent is quite unusual.
2 ADJ If you describe someone as unusual , you think that they are interesting and different from other people. □ He was an unusual man with great business talents.
un|usu|al|ly /ʌnjuː ʒuəli/
1 ADV [ADV adj] You use unusually to emphasize that someone or something has more of a particular quality than is usual. [EMPHASIS ] □ He was an unusually complex man. □ …this year's unusually harsh winter.
2 ADV You can use unusually to suggest that something is not what normally happens. □ Unusually among British prime ministers, he was not a man of natural authority. [Also + for ]
un|ut|ter|able /ʌnʌ tərəb ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] You can use unutterable to emphasize that something, especially a bad quality, is great in degree or intensity. [WRITTEN , EMPHASIS ] □ …unutterable rubbish. ● un|ut|ter|ably /ʌnʌ tərəbli/ ADV [usu ADV adj] □ I suddenly felt unutterably depressed.
un|vary|ing /ʌnveə ri I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as unvarying , you mean that it stays the same and never changes. □ …her unvarying refusal to make public appearances.
un|veil /ʌ nve I l/ (unveils , unveiling , unveiled )
1 VERB If someone formally unveils something such as a new statue or painting, they draw back the curtain which is covering it. □ [V n] …a ceremony to unveil a monument to the victims. ● un|veil|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the unveiling of a monument to one of the Croatian heroes of the past.
2 VERB If you unveil a plan, new product, or some other thing that has been kept secret, you introduce it to the public. □ [V n] Companies from across the country are here to unveil their latest models. ● un|veil|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the unveiling of a detailed peace plan.
un|waged /ʌ nwe I dʒd/ N‑PLURAL You can refer to people who do not have a paid job as the unwaged . [BRIT , BUSINESS ] □ There are special rates for the under 18s, full-time students, over 60s and the unwaged. ● ADJ Unwaged is also an adjective. □ …the effect on male wage-earners, unwaged females, and children.
un|want|ed /ʌ nwɒ nt I d/ ADJ If you say that something or someone is unwanted , you mean that you do not want them, or that nobody wants them. □ …the misery of unwanted pregnancies. □ She felt unwanted. □ Every year thousands of unwanted animals are abandoned.
un|war|rant|ed /ʌ nwɒ rənt I d, [AM ] -wɔː r-/ ADJ If you describe something as unwarranted , you are critical of it because there is no need or reason for it. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ Any attempt to discuss human rights was rejected as unwarranted interference. □ He accused the police of using unwarranted brutality.
un|wary /ʌnweə ri/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone as unwary , you mean that they are not cautious or experienced and are therefore likely to be harmed or deceived. [FORMAL ] □ With its quicksands the river usually drowns a few unwary visitors every season. ● N‑SING The unwary are people who are unwary. □ Specialist subjects are full of pitfalls for the unwary.
un|washed /ʌ nwɒ ʃt/
1 ADJ Unwashed people or objects are dirty and need to be washed. □ Leftover food and unwashed dishes cover the dirty counters.
2 PHRASE The unwashed or the great unwashed is a way of referring to poor or ordinary people. [HUMOROUS ] □ A scowling man briskly led the Queen away from the great unwashed.
un|wa|ver|ing /ʌnwe I vər I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe a feeling or attitude as unwavering , you mean that it is strong and firm and does not weaken. □ She has been encouraged by the unwavering support of her family. □ His attitude was unwavering.
un|wel|come /ʌnwe lkəm/
1 ADJ An unwelcome experience is one that you do not like and did not want. □ The media has brought more unwelcome attention to the Royal Family. □ A colleague made unwelcome sexual advances towards her.
2 ADJ If you say that a visitor is unwelcome , you mean that you did not want them to come. □ …an unwelcome guest. □ She was, quite deliberately, making him feel unwelcome.
un|wel|com|ing /ʌnwe lkəm I ŋ/
1 ADJ If someone is unwelcoming , or if they behave in an unwelcoming way, they are unfriendly or hostile when you visit or approach them. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ His manner was cold and unwelcoming. □ Both women were unwelcoming, making little attempt to put Kathryn at her ease.
2 ADJ If you describe a place as unwelcoming , you mean that it looks unattractive or difficult to live or work in. □ My room was cold and unwelcoming.
un|well /ʌ nwe l/ ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are unwell , you are ill. □ He had been riding in Hyde Park, but felt unwell as he was being driven back to his office late this afternoon.
un|whole|some /ʌ nhoʊ lsəm/
1 ADJ Unwholesome food or drink is not healthy or good for you. □ The fish were unwholesome and old.
2 ADJ If you describe someone's feelings or behaviour as unwholesome , you are critical of them because they are unpleasant or unnatural. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ My desire to be rich was an insane, unwholesome, oppressive desire.
un|wieldy /ʌnwiː ldi/
1 ADJ If you describe an object as unwieldy , you mean that it is difficult to move or carry because it is so big or heavy. □ They came panting up to his door with their unwieldy baggage.
2 ADJ If you describe a system as unwieldy , you mean that it does not work very well as a result of it being too large or badly organized. □ His firm must contend with the unwieldy Russian bureaucracy. □ …an unwieldy legal system.