unrecognisably

IPA/ʌnˈrek.əɡ.naɪ.zə.bli/
IPA/ʌnˈrek.əɡ.naɪ.zə.bli/

unrecognisably — adverb

1. in a manner that makes it impossible to see or know what something or someone wa

1.副詞B2
釋義

in a manner that makes it impossible to see or know what something or someone was before, because the change is so great

例句

The old town centre changed unrecognisably after the new buildings went up.

collocation: changed unrecognisably

Yumi's old neighbourhood had changed unrecognisably since she left for university.

collocation: changed unrecognisably

同義詞
  • beyond recognition

    a common prepositional phrase that carries the same meaning, e.g. 'changed beyond recognition'

  • indistinguishably

    more formal and less common; emphasises that two states cannot be told apart

  • completely

    less precise — describes degree but not the idea of failed identification

反義詞
  • recognisably

    the direct opposite: in a way that can still be identified as the original

  • barely

    emphasises small degree of change, whereas unrecognisably implies extreme change

用法筆記

American English spells this word unrecognizably. This adverb almost always describes a dramatic change; typical verbs it modifies include change, alter, transform, grow, and shift.

常見錯誤

The city has changed unrecognisedly.
The city has changed unrecognisably.
💡the adverb form is unrecognisably, not unrecognisedly.
He looked at me unrecognisably.
His appearance had changed unrecognisably.
💡this adverb describes how something changes, not how someone looks at something.