unknowns

IPA/ʌnˈnəʊn/
KK[ənˈonz]IPA/ʌnˈnoʊn/

unknowns — adjective

  • unknownspositive
  • more unknownscomparative
  • most unknownssuperlative

1. describes something that no one has information about, has never seen before, or

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

describes something that no one has information about, has never seen before, or cannot recognize.

Example

The cause of the mysterious illness remained unknown to doctors for several months.

be unknown to [someone]

Eitan felt nervous walking through the unknown streets of the old city at night.

unknown [noun] describing unfamiliar places

Common collocations
  • completely unknown
  • unknown to someone
  • previously unknown
  • unknown territory
  • unknown quantity
Synonyms
  • unfamiliar

    focuses on lack of personal experience rather than general knowledge

  • strange

    adds a feeling of oddness or being unsettling

  • mysterious

    emphasizes that the thing is hard to explain or understand

Antonyms
  • known

    the direct opposite in terms of awareness

  • familiar

    implies recognition from prior experience

Grammar Patterns

be unknown to someone

Common Mistakes

This is an unknown language for me.
This language is unknown to me.
use 'to' not 'for' after 'unknown'.

unknowns — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a lack of knowledge, but they differ in nuance. 'Unknown' is the most general term: something simply is not known to anyone. 'Unfamiliar' is more personal — it means YOU do not know or recognize something even if others might (e.g. an unfamiliar face in a crowd). 'Strange' adds a layer of oddness or discomfort; a strange noise makes you uneasy, while an unknown noise might just be unidentified. 'Mysterious' suggests that something is deliberately hard to explain or understand, carrying a tone of intrigue (a mysterious package left at the door). 'Obscure' applies to things that are hard to understand because they are little known or complex. For everyday use, 'unknown' is safest; for describing how something feels to you personally, choose 'unfamiliar'; and for adding emotional colour, use 'strange' or 'mysterious'.

unfamiliar ↗strange ↗mysterious ↗obscure ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Unknown' was formed in Middle English by adding the prefix 'un-' (meaning 'not') to 'known', the past participle of 'know'. The Old English ancestor was 'uncūþ', where 'cūþ' meant 'known' or 'familiar'. The word has been used steadily since the 1200s to describe anything not recognized or understood.

First known use

12th century

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Noun