Definition of unknown
- an unknown quantity
a disease of unknown cause
Much remains unknown about his early life.
Her music was previously unknown outside of Asia.
An unknown number of cases go unreported.
The victim's attacker was unknown to her.
For some unknown reason, my computer crashed.
a book of unknown poems
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unknown.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
14th century
nameless, no-name, noteless, obscure, uncelebrated, unfamous, unrecognized, unsung;
celebrated, famed, famous, noted, notorious, prominent, renowned, well-known;
distinguished, eminent, exceptional, great, illustrious, notable, outstanding, prestigious, remarkable;
estimable, honorable, reputable, respectable;
important, influential, leading, major, newsworthy, noteworthy, significant;
insignificant, minor, unimportant;
undistinguished, unexceptional, unremarkable;
explorers venturing off into the unknown
A fear of the unknown kept her from changing jobs.
The director cast an unknown in the lead role.
We're facing too many unknowns.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unknown.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
1597
: not known
: not well-known : not famous
the unknown : a place, situation, or thing that you do not know about or understand
: a person who is not famous or well-known
: something that is not known or not yet discovered
See words that rhyme with unknown Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for unknown Spanish Central: Translation of unknown Nglish: Translation of unknown for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of unknown for Arabic speakers
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