English Reference
adjective

naked

adj.
US /ˈneɪkəd/ UK /nˈeɪkɪd/ naked

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    not wearing any clothes.

    completely unclothed; nude.

    Simple

    The toddler ran out of the bathroom completely naked after his bath.

    In context

    The artist spent years studying the human form, producing hundreds of sketches of naked figures in various athletic poses.

    nudebareunclothed
  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    not covered by anything, like a light bulb without a shade or a sword without a case.

    lacking a usual or expected covering, protection, or container.

    Simple

    The naked light bulb hanging from the ceiling made the room look very cold.

    In context

    The old wires were left naked and exposed, creating a significant fire hazard for the residents of the building.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate Science

    using only your eyes to see, without using a telescope or microscope.

    referring to vision unaided by optical instruments.

    Simple

    The planet is so bright tonight that you can see it with the naked eye.

    In context

    While the bacteria are invisible to the naked eye, they become clearly defined under a standard laboratory microscope.

    unaided
  4. 04 C1 Advanced Literary

    plain and honest, without trying to hide the truth or make it sound better.

    unadorned or undisguised; presented without any attempt to soften the impact.

    Simple

    The report revealed the naked truth about the company's financial problems.

    In context

    The documentary presents the naked reality of life in the war zone, refusing to censor the most difficult images.

    starkplainunvarnished
  5. 05 C1 Advanced Literary

    describing land that has no trees or plants growing on it.

    devoid of vegetation or foliage; barren.

    Simple

    The naked rocks of the mountain stood out against the blue sky.

    In context

    The landscape was a series of naked hills, stripped of their forests by centuries of overgrazing and erosion.

Usage naked eye

The sample is checked for tiny amounts of blood that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

ScienceDaily· 21 Aug 2026

You must never look at the sun with the naked eye," he added.

BBC News· 12 Aug 2026

Etymology 1

From Middle English naked, from Old English nacod, from Proto-West Germanic nak(k)wad, from Proto-Germanic nakwadaz, from Proto-Indo-European *negʷ- (“naked”). Doublet of nude (remotely).

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin ine-pro *negʷ-
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated