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Synonyms

unfinished

American  
[uhn-fin-isht] / ʌnˈfɪn ɪʃt /

adjective

  1. not 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

"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

Other Word Forms

  • unfinishedness noun

Etymology

Origin of unfinished

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

Vocabulary lists containing unfinished

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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.

Julian wants to destroy the unfinished Christophers, but can’t bring himself to douse the canvases in kerosene and light the match.

From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026

The actor stars in Steven Soderbergh’s clever drama as an artist whose children arrange the forgery of his unfinished works to ensure themselves an inheritance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Horner, who has said he has "unfinished business" in F1, was last year overlooked to take over at Aston Martin.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Some leave with relief, some with regret, and some with a sense of unfinished business.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

The walls of the passage were unfinished, dark brown rock with streaks of what looked like zinc or some other metal.

From "Stormbreaker" by Anthony Horowitz

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.