unseen
Americanadjective
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not seen; unperceived; unobserved; invisible.
-
recognized or comprehended without prior study, as a written text or musical score.
adjective
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not observed or perceived; invisible
-
(of passages of writing) not previously seen or prepared
noun
Etymology
Origin of unseen
Explanation
Unseen things are either not noticed or hidden from view, like the unseen subway conductor whose muffled voice you hear making announcements about train delays. If your goal is to be unseen as you sneak in late to your cousin's wedding, you're hoping that no one observes you. Other things are unseen simply because it's not possible to see them: "She was aware of the ghost as a chilly presence in the room, although it remained unseen." The adjective unseen is formed by adding the prefix un-, "not," to seen.
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.
And previously unseen artefacts from the wreck - including a bowl and a boot worn by an officer - will go on display at Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre.
From BBC • May 26, 2026
Some of the unseen matter we attribute to dark matter could, in fact, be made of such relics.
From Science Daily • May 22, 2026
It may wink at the industry’s unseen heroes, but who can afford to make art for art’s sake in the entertainment industry anymore?
From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026
Frozen in time yet alive with glamour and spontaneity, these moments are part of a new exhibition in Istanbul featuring previously unseen shots by Turkey's legendary Magnum photographer Ara Guler at the Cannes Film Festival.
From Barron's • May 10, 2026
What would have happened to Moss if she had not believed Pet, if she had refused to look at the unseen things?
From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi
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.
