unpromising
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unpromising
Explanation
If something is unpromising, it doesn't show signs that it's going to be successful, beneficial, or fun. An unpromising school dance has bad music and boring snacks. An unpromising TV series seems dull from the first episode, and an unpromising job interview is awkward and uncomfortable. Just because something's unpromising doesn't mean it won't work out well in the end, only that it seems unlikely. After an unpromising start as the sickly runt of the litter, your dog may end up growing into a 100-pound goofball who lives a long, happy life.
Vocabulary lists containing unpromising
The City of Ember
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Two Left Feet, Two Left Hands, and Too Left on the Bench"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Unfavorable
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Then there was World War II. Given Cooper’s eye injury and poor physique, he made for an unpromising soldier.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2025
From this unpromising site have risen stacks of factory-built steel modules punctuated by little green spaces.
From New York Times ● May 5, 2023
The tour got off to an unpromising start when two of Swansea's three planes were diverted to Prague because of storms.
From BBC ● Feb. 26, 2023
But such unpromising places often harbored among the rarest plants and beetles, von der Lippe says.
From Science Magazine ● Nov. 2, 2022
A more unpromising child she had never seen, Kit thought, yet she couldn’t get Prudence out of her mind.
From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare
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.
