unless

[ uhn-les, uh n- ]

/ ʌnˈlɛs, ən- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR unless ON THESAURUS.COM

conjunction

except under the circumstances that: I'll be there at nine, unless the train is late.

preposition

except; but; save: Nothing will come of it, unless disaster.

QUIZZES

Discover The Influence Of Portuguese On English Via This Quiz!

We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?

Question 1 of 11

Which of the following bird names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?

owl

crow

piranha

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Words nearby unless

unlearn, unlearned, unlearnt, unleash, unleavened, unless, unlessoned, unlettered, unlevel, unlicensed, unlicked

Origin of unless

1400–50; late ME prepositional phrase on less (also o less(e), earlier upon less) on a lesser footing or condition (than); first used as a preposition and conjunction in the early 16th century; see on, less

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for unless

Unless there is a court decision that changes our law, we are OK.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In some ways I never got out of that unless realizing… well, that kind of seals it off.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Unless Cuba sends them back, you might consider following the now lifted embargo with your own personal boycott.
Cuba Protects America’s Most Wanted|Michael Daly|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Unless you were in China on November 11, you might have missed it.
Alibaba’s Dark Side: Censoring Customers|Brendon Hong|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Unless there is “a clear national security or law enforcement need,” the bias would lean toward disclosure.
How Obama Endangered Us All With Stuxnet|Kim Zetter|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Unless they give satisfaction thai schul be depper dampned then Judas Scarioth.
A History of The Inquisition of The Middle Ages; volume II|Henry Charles Lea
I have put myself out of sorts for the day, and shall go and walk, unless the direction of this sets me up again.
The Letters of Charles Dickens|Charles Dickens
I expect to know very shortly; and the moment I know I will try to inform you, unless I am forbidden.
The Mystery of the Sea|Bram Stoker
Eagle-head saw that, unless he made a desperate effort, he would be lost, and he attempted it.
The Tiger-Slayer|Gustave Aimard
I shan't see you again for ever so long, Yorick, unless you and Bessy change your minds and come up earlier.
It Never Can Happen Again|William De Morgan

British Dictionary definitions for unless

unless

/ (ʌnˈlɛs) /

conjunction

(subordinating) except under the circumstances that; except on the condition thatthey'll sell it unless he hears otherwise

preposition

rare except

Word Origin for unless

C14: onlesse, from on on + lesse less; compare French à moins que, literally: at less than

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

unless

conjunction

preposition

QUIZZES

Words related to unless

Words nearby unless

Origin of unless

Example sentences from the Web for unless

British Dictionary definitions for unless

conjunction

preposition

Word Origin for unless