unclear
Britishadjective
Other Word Forms
Explanation
When something's unclear it's hard to see or understand. If the directions for assembling your new desk are unclear, you might end up with two upside-down drawers and a handful of unused nuts and bolts. If you don't explain something accurately, it will be unclear to the person who's trying to understand. And when a photograph is badly out of focus, it's also unclear — you can't quite see the details. You can also use this adjective for the feeling that results in these situations: "I'm unclear about exactly who's in this photo and why you wanted me to see it."
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.
The systems have since been brought back under control, though much remains unclear about the attacks, including who was responsible.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
As a result, it remains unclear whether the findings would apply equally to men, older individuals, or people whose insomnia occurs alongside other medical conditions.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026
While it is unclear how much work is getting displaced by technology, “people are getting worried,” said JPMorgan Chase economist Michael Feroli.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026
It is unclear when the training began or how long it is expected to last.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
The French never requested that Perugia be returned for trial, and it was unclear whether the Italians had the right to hold one.
From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
