unattended

American  

[uhn-uh-ten-did] / ˌʌn əˈtɛn dɪd /

adjective

1. without attendance; lacking an audience, spectators, etc..

   The decision was made out of the public eye, in an unattended meeting.

2. not accompanied; not associated with, as a concomitant effect or result.

   a flash of lightning unattended by thunder.

3. not cared for or ministered to.

   unattended patients;

   an unattended injury.

4. not taken in charge; not watched over.

   Many forest fires start from unattended campfires.

   Careful, or your unattended baggage may be picked up by airport security.

5. not accompanied, as by an attendant or companion; alone.

   The queen was unattended.

6. unheeded; not listened to; disregarded.

   A number of unattended warning signals preceded the explosion.

7. not tended to; not done or carried out, as a task (usually followed byto ).

   He left his studies unattended to.

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unattended British  

/ ˌʌnəˈtɛndɪd /

adjective

1. not looked after or cared for

2. unaccompanied or alone

3. not listened to

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Etymology

Origin of unattended

First recorded in 1595–1605; un- ¹ + attend + -ed ²

Example Sentences

“She also urges everyone to be careful, watch your drinks and never leave them unattended, as this can happen to anyone. She will not be making further comments at this stage.”

From Los Angeles Times

It is understood that Skye fell from the changing table after a staff member left her unattended to look for nappy cream.

From BBC

He is also developing a device to detect signs of unattended deaths that he said can harm the environment, causing pest infestations and forcing the disposal of belongings from entire households.

From Barron's

Factoring in the year the manor has been unattended and adding in the cost of projects that may now need to be redone, $15 million may now be more realistic, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Not only did trick-or-treaters take all her candy one year after she, too, left her treats unattended, but they also swiped her porcelain Halloween bowl.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• neglected