unsuccessful
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unsuccessful
First recorded in 1610–20; un- 1 + successful
Explanation
When something is unsuccessful, it means it didn’t quite work out as planned, like trying to bake a towering, multilayered cake and ending up with a pancake instead. The word unsuccessful comes from the Latin roots un- meaning "not" and successus, meaning "a good outcome." It describes an attempt that doesn’t achieve its intended result. For example, an unsuccessful attempt at gardening will result in wilted plants rather than beautiful blooms. Although being unsuccessful can be frustrating, it’s also a valuable part of learning and growing. Many great inventors and artists faced unsuccessful attempts before finally succeeding.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As Rodríguez met with U.S. officials in New York, opposition leader María Corina Machado made three unsuccessful attempts to return to Venezuela by plane and sea.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
Sheehan, too, was not an expected announcement, with the former Leeds, Leicester and Luton full-back out of work since November 2025 when he was sacked by Swansea City following a relatively unsuccessful seven-month stint.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
But after an unsuccessful search in North Carolina’s Research Triangle for a house that fit their style, Manuela Eilert and Norbert Hiller decided to build from scratch.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
But looking back, Kirk’s transformation from grieving widow to unsuccessful CEO feels preordained.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
A volunteer lawyer had challenged the intent questions in a desperate appeal but was unsuccessful.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
