unprepared

adjective

un·​pre·​pared ˌən-pri-ˈperd 

: not prepared

was unprepared for class

… they were woefully unprepared to take on the responsibilities expected of them.

—Richard M. Ketchum

unpreparedness

ˌən-pri-ˈper-əd-nəs 

also -ˈperd-nəs

noun

Synonyms of unprepared

• impromptu
• improvised
• improvisational

Examples of unprepared in a Sentence

an obviously unprepared acceptance speech by the surprise winner

Recent Examples on the Web

When this relocation process breaks down, and viscous black liquid flows into marine environments, plants and animals are evolutionarily unprepared. —Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026

Pushing unprepared students through high school and college diminishes the value of the degrees that students and families have sacrificed years and tens of thousands of dollars to attain. —David Blobaum, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026

Stirling’s forces surrounded the unprepared Aboriginal people, taking positions across the river and at the fords above and below the camp. —Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026

Early in the pandemic, the inability to deploy reliable diagnostic testing left the nation unprepared at a critical moment. —Charles J. Lockwood, STAT, 31 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1528, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing unprepared

• catch unawares/unprepared/by surprise

Rhymes for unprepared

• aired
• bared
• blared
• caird
• cared
• chaired
• dared
• erred
• fared
• flared
• glared
• haired