un

or 'un

[ uhn ]

/ ən /

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pronoun Dialect.

one: young uns; He's a bad un.

QUIZ

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Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

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Other definitions for un (2 of 4)

or U.N.

abbreviation

United Nations (def. 1).

Other definitions for un (3 of 4)

un-¹

a prefix meaning “not,” freely used as an English formative, giving negative or opposite force in adjectives and their derivative adverbs and nouns (unfair; unfairly; unfairness; unfelt; unseen; unfitting; unformed; unheard-of; un-get-at-able), and less freely used in certain other nouns (unrest; unemployment).

Compare un-².

Origin of un-

Middle English un-, on-,Old English; cognate with Dutch on-,Gothic, German un-,Old Norse ū-, ō-; akin to Latin in-,Greek an-, a-.See a-⁶, an-¹, in-³

synonym study for un-

See in-³.

Other definitions for un (4 of 4)

un-²

a prefix freely used in English to form verbs expressing a reversal of some action or state, or removal, deprivation, release, etc. (unbend; uncork; unfasten, etc.), or to intensify the force of a verb already having such a meaning (unloose).

Compare un-¹.

Origin of un-

Middle English, Old English un-, on-; cognate with Gothic and-,Dutch ont-,German ent-; akin to Latin ante,Greek antí;cf. ante-, anti-

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use un in a sentence

Director Yoo Dong-hun and screenwriter Lee Jung-u were arrested for firebombing theaters.
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea|Rich Goldstein|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Within a few summer weeks, “Hot N—” had become an inescapable pop-culture phenomenon and Bobby landed a major record deal.
Bobby Shmurda and Rap’s Ultimate Hoop Dream|Rawiya Kameir|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Despite all the gun talk in “Hot N—,” everyone wanted a piece of him and his magic.
Bobby Shmurda and Rap’s Ultimate Hoop Dream|Rawiya Kameir|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And people were going crazy until the movie hit and it was ‘n---a’ 110 times on Christmas.
Jamie Foxx: Get Over the Black ‘Annie’|Stereo Williams|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I harbor a rock ‘n’ roll fantasy, just like anybody, and I welcomed the challenge.
Michael C. Hall on Going Drag for ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ and Exorcising ‘Dexter’|Marlow Stern|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
M was a Miser, and hoarded up gold; N was a Nobleman, gallant and bold.
Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building, Volume I (of 17)|Various
U was an Usurer, a miserable elf; V was a Vintner, who drank all himself.
Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building, Volume I (of 17)|Various
Il n'y eut celuy de nous qui ne jugeast tel metheore prodigieux.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
The right reading is They ne sholde have (They ne being read as They n').
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems|Geoffrey Chaucer
Both the others pass through N, and show money circulating twice out of bank.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips

British Dictionary definitions for un (1 of 4)

'un

un

/ (ən) /

pronoun

a spelling of one that's a big 'un

usage for 'un

This spelling is intended to reflect a dialectal or informal pronunciation

British Dictionary definitions for un (2 of 4)

abbreviation for

United Nations

British Dictionary definitions for un (3 of 4)

un-¹

prefix

(freely used with adjectives, participles, and their derivative adverbs and nouns: less frequently used with certain other nouns) not; contrary to; opposite ofuncertain; uncomplaining; unemotionally; untidiness; unbelief; unrest; untruth

Word Origin for un-

from Old English on-, un-; related to Gothic on-, German un-, Latin in-

British Dictionary definitions for un (4 of 4)

un-²

prefix forming verbs and verbal derivatives

denoting reversal of an action or stateuncover; untangle

denoting removal from, release, or deprivationunharness; unman; unthrone

(intensifier)unloose

Word Origin for un-

from Old English un-, on-; related to Gothic and-, German ent-, Latin ante

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for un

un-

pref.

Not:unmyelinated.