Showing results for "unsaid"

• past participle of unsay.
• past tense form of unsay.

unsaid

¹ American  

[uhn-sed] / ʌnˈsɛd /

verb

1. simple past tense and past participle of unsay.

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unsaid ² American  

[uhn-sed] / ʌnˈsɛd /

adjective

1. not said; thought but not mentioned or discussed; unstated.

   It was best left unsaid.

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unsaid British  

/ ʌnˈsɛd /

adjective

1. not said or expressed; unspoken

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Etymology

Origin of unsaid

before 1000; Middle English unsa ( i ) d, Old English unsǣd; see un- ¹, said ¹

Explanation

If something hasn't been spoken out loud, it's unsaid. Even when something is unsaid, its meaning is sometimes understood anyway. It's more common to use the adjective unspoken when you're talking about something that's implied indirectly but not articulated in words, but you can use unsaid this way too. In print, you're most likely to see it in its role as the past tense of unsay: "Once you've said something mean, it can't be unsaid."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

unsaid

Or is that a conversation better left unsaid?

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026

John F. Kennedy was a sailor and "the second most good-looking president," Trump said, leaving unsaid who is the first.

From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026

Thankfully, Babitz did exactly that — no rambling thoughts, petty accusations or amusing missives left unsaid.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026

This week on Amicus, that changes: Two judges sat down with us to talk openly about what often goes unsaid.

From Slate ● May 9, 2026

Tūtū peers over her glasses at Auntie Nina, and something unsaid passes between them.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila