# unanswered

/ˌəˈnænsɝd/ (US) · /ʌnˈɑːnsəd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unanswered
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

not having an answer or a response. You use this for questions that nobody has replied to or problems that have not been solved.

For teachers: not replied to or resolved. Often describes questions, prayers, or challenges that remain without a corresponding reaction or solution.

## Examples

- Her last three emails remain unanswered.
- The detective was frustrated because several key questions about the night of the crime were still unanswered.
- Despite decades of intensive research and significant funding, the fundamental question of how life first began on Earth remains largely unanswered by the scientific community.

## Usage notes

- Often follows linking verbs like 'remain', 'stay', or 'be'.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.