unspoken

[uhn-spoh-kuh n]

See more synonyms for unspoken on Thesaurus.com

adjective

implied or understood without being spoken or uttered.
not addressed (usually followed by to).
not talking; silent.

Origin of unspoken

First recorded in 1325–75, unspoken is from the Middle English word unspokyn. See un-¹, spoken

unspeak

[uhn-speek]

verb (used with object), un·spoke, un·spo·ken, un·speak·ing. Obsolete.

to recant; unsay.

Origin of unspeak

First recorded in 1595–1605; un-² + speak

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for unspoken

implied, implicit, tacit, inarticulate, mute, silent, understood, unexpressed, unsaid, inferred, intimated, invoiced, unstated

Examples from the Web for unspoken

Contemporary Examples of unspoken

The unspoken question from his son and the thousands of other kids was, “Could it happen to you?”
Choking Back Tears, Thousands of Cops Honor Fallen Officer Ramos
Michael Daly
December 28, 2014
The unspoken controversy surrounding Hall lies in that he is challenging the status quo, which is cherished in Texas.
The University of Texas’s Machiavellian War on Its Regent
David Davis
October 27, 2014
She refused to participate in political bribery, which is the unspoken prerequisite backbone of this world.
‘Housewife Tycoon’ Took On ‘Mad Men’ NYC Real Estate Market and Won
Vicky Ward
October 26, 2014
Flagrant anti-Semitism fell out of favor and was replaced by a closeted, unspoken bigotry.
Superman Is Jewish: The Hebrew Roots of America's Greatest Superhero
Rich Goldstein
August 16, 2014
Every Woody Allen review begins with an unspoken disclaimer.
He’s Still Older, Even in the Moonlight: Woody Allen’s May-December Romances Inspire Scrutiny
Teo Bugbee
July 25, 2014

Historical Examples of unspoken

When this room had last been lighted, the parable of the Virgins of the Lamps was yet unspoken.
It Happened in Egypt
C. N. Williamson
And a second time he nodded acquiescence to his unspoken thought.
The Fortune Hunter
Louis Joseph Vance
"I don't understand this," said Greer, in answer to Madden's unspoken perplexity.
The Cruise of the Dry Dock
T. S. Stribling
A rattle of firearms far off on the other side of the river left it unspoken.
The Law-Breakers
Ridgwell Cullum
She paused, and Wrayson, without hesitation, answered her unspoken question.
The Avenger
E. Phillips Oppenheim

British Dictionary definitions for unspoken

unspoken

adjective

understood without needing to be spoken; tacit
not uttered aloud

unspeak

verb -speaks, -speaking, -spoke or -spoken

an obsolete word for unsay

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

Word Origin and History for unspoken

adj.

late 14c., from un- (1) "not" + past participle of speak. Cf. Middle Dutch ongesproken, Middle Low German ungesproken.