1
: not read : left unexamined
an unread book
unread messages
Poe, Hawthorne, Shakespeare, Thackeray—the full panoply of English literature piled up unread, but treasured, under my bed.—
Russell Baker
Russell Baker2
: lacking the experience or the benefits of reading
unread in political science
plural unreads
: something (such as an email or text message) that has not been read
I'm also someone who hates having unread emails, and opening my inbox and seeing dozens of unreads stresses me out immensely.—Rachel Wilkerson Miller
Rachel Wilkerson MillerExamples of unread in a Sentence
Adjective
On her desk was a pile of magazines that had been left unread for months.
an officer who seemed to be completely unread in military theory
Recent Examples on the Web
Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 13 May 2025
Digital clutter— unread emails, countless open tabs, and thousands of unorganized photos—can feel like a burden and actually hinder your productivity and focus.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2025
Solution: Delete all unread messages and start over.
—Chris Guillebeau, Contributor, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2025
An Overflowing Inbox Having hundreds or even thousands (hey, no judgment!) of unread emails in your inbox can be overwhelming, to say the least.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unread
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Adjective
Gmail is rolling out a new feature that corrals the seemingly unstoppable daily incursion of unread newsletters and unwanted marketing promotions in a separate tab.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 13 May 2025
Digital clutter— unread emails, countless open tabs, and thousands of unorganized photos—can feel like a burden and actually hinder your productivity and focus.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2025
Solution: Delete all unread messages and start over.
—Chris Guillebeau, Contributor, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2025
An Overflowing Inbox Having hundreds or even thousands (hey, no judgment!) of unread emails in your inbox can be overwhelming, to say the least.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unread
Cite this Entry
“Unread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unread. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unread
adjective
un·read
ˌən-ˈred 
ˈən-
1
: not read
an unread book
2
: not well informed through reading : uneducated
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