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 countries discussed a possible defence pact in the recent meetings, but it's still unclear how the agreement might be structured or what Iraqi Kurdistan's role might be.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
It’s unclear, but her absurd recommendations tickle Kelly.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
The strategists said it’s unclear that the U.S. administration will want to maintain a permanent Middle East naval escort service that’s been helping more oil get out — “a critical unknown at this juncture.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 28, 2026
The previous version, GTA 5, was released in 2013 and sold more than 200 million copies; it's unclear how many pre-orders have been placed for GTA 6.
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026
The sounds were slow and unclear, as if people were speaking through a tunnel.
From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai
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.
