unrequited

American

[uhn-ri-kwahy-tid] / ˌʌn rɪˈkwaɪ tɪd /

adjective

not returned or reciprocated.

unrequited love.
not avenged or retaliated.

an unrequited wrong.
not repaid or satisfied.

unrequited British

/ ˌʌnrɪˈkwaɪtɪd /

adjective

(of love, affection, etc) not reciprocated or returned

"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

Etymology

Origin of unrequited

First recorded in 1535–45; un- ¹ + requite + -ed ²

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.

This is something far more daffy and useless: The brouhaha over unrequited affections between Seattle Mariners at the World Baseball Classic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

Avril Lavigne lends her soaring vocals to the unrequited love song “You Broke Me Too.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 13, 2025

It's used to heart-wrenching effect on their debut album, singing of the physical ache of unrequited love, over delicately strummed guitars and brushed drums.

From BBC • Sep. 10, 2025

Here, he asks us to think back to our great loves — realized or unrequited — and warns us that the longing never goes away.

From Salon • Nov. 27, 2024

It’s cloudy now, like even the sun is trying to spare you the embarrassment of being seen walking hand in hand with the object of your unrequited affection like some lovesick puppy.

From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023