unanswered
/ʌnˈɑːnsəd/ (bre, ipa) · /ʌnˈænsərd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌən-ˈan(t)-sərd/ (ame, mw)
unanswered — adjective
- unansweredpositive
- more unansweredcomparative
- most unansweredsuperlative
1. A question, message, or request that is unanswered has received no response. A p
A question, message, or request that is unanswered has received no response. A problem or doubt that remains unanswered has not been solved or explained.
Bilal's email to the university admissions office remained unanswered for three weeks.
remain unanswered — no reply after time passes
Several key questions from the audience went unanswered after the speaker finished her talk.
go unanswered — questions not addressed
Meera left her colleague's urgent message unanswered and focused on the meeting instead.
Kenji stared at his sister's unanswered text, unsure how to share the bad news.
The mystery of the missing painting remained unanswered despite months of investigation.
- unresolved
Stronger focus on problems or mysteries that have not been settled, often implying ongoing tension or lack of closure
- unreplied
Specific to written correspondence; much less common in everyday speech than unanswered
- unreturned
Used mainly for phone calls or favours that have not been reciprocated
文法句型
remain + unanswered
go + unanswered
leave + noun + unanswered
用法筆記
Frequently used in passive-like constructions such as remain unanswered, go unanswered, and leave something unanswered, rather than purely as an attributive adjective before a noun. The subject is typically something that expects or requires a response — a question, email, phone call, prayer, or request.
常見錯誤
2. In sports, describes points, goals, or runs that a team or player scores consecu
In sports, describes points, goals, or runs that a team or player scores consecutively while the opponent does not score at all during that same stretch of play.
The visiting team scored eighteen unanswered points in the second half and cruised to victory.
unanswered points — consecutive scoring while opponent scores none
Vinícius hit three unanswered home runs, turning a close match into a one-sided victory.
The Dragons scored five unanswered goals in the final ten minutes of the match.
Anong's team gave up twelve unanswered runs in the third inning and lost the game.
- consecutive
Simply means one after another, without the additional meaning that the opponent scored nothing in reply
- answered
In sports commentary, describes a score by the opposing side that comes in reply (e.g., an answered goal)
文法句型
unanswered + points / goals / runs
用法筆記
Only used for a sequence of scoring — never for a single goal or point. The modifier always appears before the total (e.g., ten unanswered points, not points that were unanswered). Can describe either the scoring team (scored X unanswered points) or the conceding team (gave up X unanswered points).