unheard
Americanadjective
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not heard; not perceived by the ear.
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not given a hearing or audience.
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Archaic. unheard-of.
adjective
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not heard; not perceived by the ear
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not listened to or granted a hearing
his warning went unheard
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archaic unheard-of
Etymology
Origin of unheard
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English unherd. See un- 1, heard ( def. )
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.
Nate Bargatze has a business plan so unheard of for a stand-up comedian that it sounds like the setup for a joke.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
Of course, its not unheard of for smaller companies to take over larger ones.
From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026
The vice president is always seen as the president’s natural successor, and it’s certainly not unheard of for a secretary of state to throw their hat into the ring.
From Salon • May 3, 2026
The fine may have been less than some traffic tickets, but it’s nearly unheard for a judge to formally admonish a government lawyer.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2026
This was nearly unheard of, and made Marge a pariah as far as some white colleagues were concerned.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
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.
