unsettled

/ʌnˈsetld/ (bre, ipa) · [ənsˈɛtəld] /ʌnˈsetld/ (ame, ipa) · [ənsˈɛtəld] /ˌən-ˈse-tᵊld How to pronounce unsettled (audio)/ (ame, mw)

unsettled — adjective

  • unsettledpositive
  • more unsettledcomparative
  • most unsettledsuperlative

1. shifting or changing often, so that conditions are not steady and the next outco

1.形容詞B2
釋義

shifting or changing often, so that conditions are not steady and the next outcome is hard to predict.

例句

The weather this spring has been unsettled, with sunshine one day and rain the next.

collocation: unsettled weather / unsettled period

Stock markets remained unsettled all week as investors reacted to the sudden policy changes.

pattern: remained unsettled

同義詞
  • unstable

    stronger implication of inherent weakness; 'unsettled' is more about temporary turbulence

  • volatile

    more formal and intense; suggests extreme and dangerous changeability

  • variable

    neutral term for things that differ over time; less emotional than 'unsettled'

反義詞
  • stable

    steady and unlikely to change

  • settled

    having a regular and predictable pattern

用法筆記

Subject is usually a situation, condition, or natural phenomenon (weather, wind, market, political climate) — not people or their feelings.

常見錯誤

❌The chair is unsettled' (meaning wobbly).
✅The chair is unstable / unsteady.
💡'unsettled' describes changeable situations, not physical wobbliness.
❌The ground felt unsettled' (meaning shaking).
✅The ground felt unsteady during the earthquake.
💡For physical instability, use 'unsteady' or 'shaky'.

2. feeling restless or bothered inside, without the ability to become peaceful or s

2.形容詞B2
釋義

feeling restless or bothered inside, without the ability to become peaceful or still — often because of worry or uncertainty.

例句

Beatriz felt unsettled by the strange silence in the house when she got home.

pattern: unsettled by [something]

The children grew unsettled as the storm grew louder and the lights flickered.

同義詞
  • uneasy

    slightly milder, suggests physical discomfort as well as mental worry

  • restless

    focuses on the inability to stay still; less about internal worry

  • agitated

    more intense; suggests visible physical signs of distress

  • worried

    more direct and specific about the cause of concern

反義詞
  • calm

    peaceful and free from worry

  • relaxed

    free from tension and stress

  • composed

    in control of one's feelings

用法筆記

Describes a temporary emotional state, not a personality trait. Frequently used with the prepositions 'by' (cause of the feeling) or 'about' (focus of the worry). Distinguish from sense 1 (CHANGEABLE), which refers to external conditions rather than internal feelings.

常見錯誤

❌She is an unsettled person by nature.
✅She is an anxious person by nature.
💡'unsettled' describes a temporary feeling, not a personality trait.
❌I feel unsettled about passing the exam' (meaning confident).
✅I feel unsettled about the exam results.
💡'unsettled' means worried or uncertain, not confident.

3. not yet agreed upon or resolved, with the final outcome or decision still open.

3.形容詞B2
釋義

not yet agreed upon or resolved, with the final outcome or decision still open.

例句

The question of who will lead the team remains unsettled after the vote.

pattern: question / issue / matter remains unsettled

Several legal issues are still unsettled and will require further discussion in court.

同義詞
  • undecided

    used for both issues and people who have not made up their mind

  • unresolved

    stronger implication that closure should have happened already

  • pending

    formal; implies an official or legal process is still ongoing

反義詞
  • settled

    agreed upon and no longer open to debate

  • decided

    a final choice has been made

  • resolved

    the problem or question has been dealt with

用法筆記

Subject is always a question, issue, dispute, plan, or matter — never a person. For a person who has not yet made their choice, use 'undecided' instead.

常見錯誤

❌I am unsettled about which school to choose.
✅I am undecided about which school to choose.
💡'unsettled' describes the issue itself, not the person's state of having to choose.
❌The recipe for the cake is still unsettled.
✅The menu for the party is still unsettled.
💡'unsettled' works for decisions and plans, not fixed procedures like recipes.

4. money that is still owed and has not yet been given to the person or organisatio

4.形容詞B2
釋義

money that is still owed and has not yet been given to the person or organisation it is due to.

例句

Salma received a warning letter about her unsettled electricity bill from last quarter.

collocation: unsettled bill / unsettled debt / unsettled account

The company still has several unsettled debts with its overseas suppliers.

同義詞
  • outstanding

    formal term for unpaid debts or bills; more common in business contexts

  • overdue

    implies the payment is late, not just unpaid

  • pending

    neutral term meaning waiting to be processed; may or may not imply urgency

反義詞
  • paid

    the money has been handed over

  • settled

    the balance has been cleared and no longer owed

  • cleared

    a cheque or payment has been fully processed

用法筆記

Restricted to financial contexts — bills, debts, accounts, claims, payments. Does not apply to physical objects or abstract matters.

常見錯誤

❌The package is unsettled' (meaning not delivered).
✅The package has not arrived yet.
💡'unsettled' for goods means undelivered only in logistics contexts; use 'not delivered' or 'pending' in everyday speech.
❌The library fine is unsettled' (meaning unreturned book).
✅The electricity bill is still unsettled.
💡'unsettled' for money means unpaid, not that an item is missing.