unbeknown

[ uhn-bi-nohn ]

/ ˌʌn bɪˈnoʊn /

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adjective

unknown; unperceived; without one's knowledge (usually followed by to).

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

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Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

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Also un·be·knownst

[uhn-bi-nohnst]. /ˌʌn bɪˈnoʊnst/.

Origin of unbeknown

1630–40; un-¹ + beknown (late Middle English beknowe, past participle of beknowen); see be-, known

Words nearby unbeknown

unbearable, unbeatable, unbeaten, unbecoming, unbegotten, unbeknown, unbelief, unbelievable, unbelievably, unbeliever, unbelieving

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

How to use unbeknown in a sentence

Twenty-year-old Tiller is supposed to be in college on an overseas program, but unbeknown to his dad, he has spent the last few months on a series of bizarre adventures in Asia.
Chang-rae Lee’s ‘My Year Abroad,’ is a sweeping, twisty tale of love, family and hope|Frances Cha|February 18, 2021|Washington Post
From which illustration I inferred that Mr. Lincoln wanted Davis to escape, "unbeknown" to him.
The Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman, Complete|William T. Sherman
I inclose to you a tin pound note, which ye father sends to ye unbeknown to me.
Recitations for the Social Circle|James Clarence Harvey
Perhaps he was skeptical of his country's harboring such a rare beauty unbeknown to him.
The Story of Don Quixote|Arvid Paulson, Clayton Edwards, and Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

Then she flew from the castle and donned her catskin robe again, and slipped into the scullery again, unbeknown to the cook.
More English Fairy Tales|Various
Without one moment's warning, and unbeknown even to her husband, the lady went to the station and entered the train for New York.
The Mapleson Memoirs, vol II|James H. Mapleson

British Dictionary definitions for unbeknown

unbeknown

/ (ˌʌnbɪˈnəʊn) /

adverb

(sentence modifier foll by to) without the knowledge (of a person)unbeknown to him she had left the country Also (esp Brit): unbeknownst

adjective

(postpositive usually foll by to) rare not known (to)

Word Origin for unbeknown

C17: from the archaic beknown known; see be-, know

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