unless

B1 Topic:Grammar & Function Words

Also spelled onless

US /ənˈlɛs/ See IPA manual

Freq #774

Meanings

1

conj
Except if; used to say something will happen if a condition is not met.

I'm leaving unless I get a pay rise.

Thesaurus

Opposites

Word family

Derived forms unlesss

Etymology

From Middle English unlesse, earlier on lesse (modern on + less), from (not) on lesse (than) (“(not) on a less compelling condition (than)”). The quality of negation in the word and the lack of stress changed on to un-.

unlesse Middle English

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Topics

Grammar & Function Words

External links

# unless

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** conj
**IPA (US):** /ənˈlɛs/
**Frequency rank:** 774

## Meanings
1. Except if; used to say something will happen if a condition is not met.

## Examples
- I'm leaving unless I get a pay rise.

## Antonyms
- if

## Derived Forms
- unlesss

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: unlesse

## Etymology
From Middle English unlesse, earlier on lesse (modern on + less), from (not) on lesse (than) (“(not) on a less compelling condition (than)”). The quality of negation in the word and the lack of stress changed on to un-.

## AI Etymology
Unless is from Middle English unlesse, earlier on lesse (modern on + less), from (not) on lesse (than) (“(not) on a less compelling condition (than)”). The quality of negation in the word and the lack of stress changed on to un-. The historical line also includes Middle English unlesse. In present-day use, it can mean except if; used to say something will happen if a condition is not met. Derived formations include unlesss.

## Topics
- Grammar & Function Words

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