unsorted

/ˌʌnˈsɔːtɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌʌnˈsɔːrtɪd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌən-ˈsȯr-təd/ (ame, mw)

unsorted — adjective

  • unsortedpositive
  • more unsortedcomparative
  • most unsortedsuperlative

1. describes items that have not been arranged into categories, groups, or any part

1.形容詞B1
釋義

describes items that have not been arranged into categories, groups, or any particular order — for example, a drawer full of mixed socks, or a box of photographs from different years all in one pile.

例句

Eve found a pile of unsorted mail on the hall table, mixed with flyers.

unsorted + mail / pile of [items]

The librarian asked Hamza to shelve the unsorted books students left on the reading desk.

同義詞
  • disorganized

    Broader — can describe a person, a system, or a space; 'unsorted' is limited to items not yet grouped.

  • unclassified

    More formal; often used for documents or data that have not been assigned to a category.

  • jumbled

    Emphasizes the physical mix-up; 'jumbled' implies things are tangled or in the wrong order, while 'unsorted' simply means no sorting has been done yet.

反義詞
  • sorted

    Direct opposite — items placed into correct groups or order.

  • organized

    Broader opposite, covering arrangement, tidiness, and system.

文法句型

unsorted + noun (attributive)

be/lie/remain + unsorted (predicative)

用法筆記

Commonly used attributively (before a noun) to describe physical items such as mail, data, recycling, laundry, or photographs. In predicative position ('the papers are still unsorted'), both 'unsorted' and 'not sorted' are acceptable, but 'unsorted' is more concise.

常見錯誤

❌The unsorted room was hard to walk through.
✅The room was hard to walk through because the items were unsorted.
💡'unsorted' describes the items themselves, not the space they occupy.
❌I have unsorted emails from last month.
✅I have unread emails from last month.
💡Use 'unread' for messages you have not opened; use 'unsorted' for messages you have not filed into folders.

2. describes a question, issue, or problem that people have not yet handled or sett

2.形容詞B2
釋義

describes a question, issue, or problem that people have not yet handled or settled in an adequate manner — for example, a disagreement between colleagues that nobody has resolved.

例句

Several unsorted issues from the board meeting remained on the agenda for the following week.

unsorted + issues / questions

Nikos felt uneasy leaving the budget question unsorted before the holiday break.

leave + [noun] + unsorted

同義詞
  • unresolved

    Standard alternative in both formal and informal English; 'unsorted' is much rarer for this sense.

  • outstanding

    Common for tasks or payments that have not been completed.

  • unsettled

    Suggests an agreement has not been reached; slightly more formal than 'unsorted.'

反義詞
  • resolved

    Direct opposite — a problem has been dealt with satisfactorily.

  • settled

    Common for disputes or negotiations that have reached a conclusion.

文法句型

remain/leave/stay + unsorted

unsorted + issue / question / problem

用法筆記

Chiefly British and informal. In formal or American English, 'unresolved' is the preferred alternative for problems, disputes, or questions. Typically used predicatively ('the matter remains unsorted') rather than before a noun.

常見錯誤

❌We need to talk about the unsorted conflict.
✅We need to talk about the unresolved conflict.
💡Before a noun, 'unresolved' sounds more natural in most contexts.
❌The unsorted laundry is still in the basket.' (when you mean 'not yet washed')
✅The unwashed laundry is still in the basket.
💡'Unsorted' in sense 1 means not grouped, not 'not yet cleaned.'