unsent

American  

[uhn-sent] / ʌnˈsɛnt /

adjective

1. not sent.

   Unsent text messages are stored in the Drafts folder.

   His final wish came in the form of an unsent letter in a drawer.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of unsend.

Etymology

Origin of unsent

First recorded in 1530–40; un- ¹ ( def. ) + sent ¹ ( def. ) for the adjective, un- ² ( def. ) + sent ¹ ( def. ) for the verb

Example Sentences

In a final, unsent letter, addressed to Maximilien Robespierre, she wrote, “speak; it is something to know one’s fate, and with a soul like mine, one is capable of envisaging it.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

This is the second major incident in England involving unsent NHS letters uncovered by the BBC this week.

From BBC • Sep. 29, 2023

Those on the receiving end see that a message was unsent and the edit history, the company said.

From Seattle Times • May 23, 2023

But now that Charles is king, Allen said that her letter would remain unsent.

From New York Times • Sep. 16, 2022

I wrote my mother letter after letter, reading them over and ripping them up unsent, before I finally worked up the courage to tell her.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros