unsung
Americanadjective
-
not sung; not uttered or rendered by singing.
-
not celebrated in song or verse; not praised or acclaimed.
the unsung heroes of the war.
adjective
-
not acclaimed or honoured
unsung deeds
-
not yet sung
Etymology
Origin of unsung
1375–1425 unsung for def. 1; 1660–70 unsung for def. 2; late Middle English; see un- 1, sung
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.
Mr. Vance has blown off this important if unsung duty, preferring to stay in the spotlight.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
The beauty of this show is that Waters and his producers focused on history’s unsung heroes or the lesser-known feats of famous ones with an infectious, besotted revelry that frequently inspired further research.
From Salon ● Jul. 1, 2026
A gold pocket watch owned by an unsung hero of the Titanic disaster could fetch up to £100,000 at auction, those selling it say.
From BBC ● Apr. 14, 2026
He’s a rich real estate developer who quit the race in November after an unsung yearlong campaign.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 14, 2026
And much of that was thanks to cells from one woman, “an unsung heroine of medicine.”
From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
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.
