Showing results for "unsaid"

• past tense form of unsay.
• past participle 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

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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

There is careful specificity and intent in every word said and unsaid.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

There’s a reason in life for the way life evolves, and I think one of those is the unsaid, and the unsaid is a beautiful thing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

But the present and possibly future Green Lanterns were summoned there for a reason best left unsaid here, and in keeping with HBO’s extensive spoiler embargo.

From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026

Or is that a conversation better left unsaid?

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026

That evening, Ifemelu wrote a long e-mail to Wambui about the bookstore, the magazines, the things she didn’t tell Curt, things unsaid and unfinished.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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