unknown

A2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ʌnˈnoʊn/ UK /ʌn(ˈn)əʊn/ See IPA manual

Freq #2837

Meanings

1

adj
Not known; not discovered or identified.

The cause of the fire is still unknown.
2

adj
Not famous; not known to many people.

The film starred a young, unknown actor.
3

noun
Something that is not known or understood.

Astronauts venture into the unknown every time they leave Earth.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · not known; not discovered... unidentified undiscovered obscure

2 adj · not famous; not known to... anonymous nameless

3 noun · something that is not known... unknown region

Opposites

ascertained familiar famous known recognizable recognized well-known

Word family

Forms unknowns

Appears in

Idioms (1)

See all

unknown quantity
a person or factor whose nature, ability, or effect cannot yet be predicted

Etymology

From Middle English *unknowen, *uniknowen, uniknowe, from Old English unġecnāwen (“unknown”), equivalent to un- + known.

*unknowen Middle English unġecnāwen Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# unknown

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ʌnˈnoʊn/
**IPA (UK):** /ʌn(ˈn)əʊn/
**Frequency rank:** 2837

## Meanings
1. Not known; not discovered or identified.
2. Not famous; not known to many people.
3. Something that is not known or understood.

## Examples
- The cause of the fire is still unknown.
- The film starred a young, unknown actor.
- Astronauts venture into the unknown every time they leave Earth.

## Antonyms
- ascertained
- familiar
- famous
- known
- recognizable
- recognized
- well-known

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *unknowen
- Root: unġecnāwen
- Affix: un- - not

## Etymology
From Middle English *unknowen, *uniknowen, uniknowe, from Old English unġecnāwen (“unknown”), equivalent to un- + known.

## AI Etymology
Unknown is from Middle English *unknowen, *uniknowen, uniknowe, from Old English unġecnāwen (“unknown”), equivalent to un- + known. The historical line also includes Middle English *unknowen, Old English unġecnāwen. In present-day use, it can mean not known; not discovered or identified, or not famous; not known to many people.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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