unfinished

adjective

un·​fin·​ished ˌən-ˈfi-nisht 

: not finished:

a

: not brought to an end or to the desired final state

an unfinished building/play/sentence

b

: being in a rough state : unpolished

unfinished wood

c

: subjected to no other processes (such as bleaching or dyeing) after coming from the loom

Examples of unfinished in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

McBride places the unfinished hat on my head for a brief fit check, aligning it to the center of my face before lifting it away again. — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 July 2026

The most important moves for Detroit this offseason are still unfinished and could take a while. — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Investigators believe the unfinished roof of the second floor may have collapsed because of poor construction. — ABC News, 1 July 2026

Research on attention residue in 2009 found that part of the mind remains attached to an unfinished task even after switching, which degrades performance on whatever comes next. — Faustino Júnior, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1539, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing unfinished

• unfinished business

Rhymes for unfinished

• semifinished
• undiminished
• diminished
• refinished
• finished

Kids Definition

unfinished

adjective

un·​fin·​ished ˌən-ˈfin-isht 

: not finished

especially : not brought to the desired state

unfinished furniture