unfinished

American  

[uhn-fin-isht] / ʌnˈfɪn ɪʃt /

adjective

1. not finished; finished; incomplete or unaccomplished.

2. lacking some special finish or surface treatment, as polish, paint, etc.

3. (of cloth) not sheared following the looming process.

4. (of worsted) given a slight nap.

---

unfinished British  

/ ʌnˈfɪnɪʃt /

adjective

1. incomplete or imperfect

2. (of paint, polish, varnish, etc) without an applied finish; rough

3. (of fabric) unbleached or not processed

4. (of fabric) with a short nap

---

Other Word Forms

• unfinishedness noun

Etymology

Origin of unfinished

First recorded in 1530–40; un- ¹ + finished

Example Sentences

Rousseau’s unfinished, unstructured “Reveries” resembles the herbarium in which he gathered a botanical record of his daily walks.

From The Wall Street Journal

State banks have been encouraged to extend credit for unfinished projects, purchase restrictions loosened in lower-tier cities, and mortgage terms adjusted at the margin.

From Barron's

Persistent blackouts have left many pieces unfinished, including candleholders and aromatherapy huts.

From The Wall Street Journal

It may shine in the record books, but it will always feel unfinished to those who know what real college football tradition demands.

From Los Angeles Times

Her book is also filled with the unpublished notes and unfinished research of her beloved grandmother, an anthropologist who documented several of the festivals Ms. MeLampy writes about.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bare
• incomplete
• unadorned
• undeveloped
• unfulfilled