Word
unattended
Phoneticsunat·tend·ed
US/ənəˈtɛndɪd/
UK/ʌnɐtˈɛndɪd/
Definition
adj. describing something that is left alone without anyone watching or taking care of it.
adj. not being accompanied, supervised, or cared for by a responsible person. Often used in public safety contexts to describe luggage or vehicles left in a restricted area.
Examples
“Do not leave your bags unattended at the airport.”
“The fire started because a candle was left unattended in the living room while the family was outside.”
“Security protocols mandate that any unattended package discovered within the terminal must be reported immediately to the local authorities for inspection and potential disposal.”
Examples
simple
“Do not leave your bags unattended at the airport.”
contextual
“The fire started because a candle was left unattended in the living room while the family was outside.”
complex
“Security protocols mandate that any unattended package discovered within the terminal must be reported immediately to the local authorities for inspection and potential disposal.”
Usage
Typically used predicatively after 'leave' or 'remain', or attributively before a noun.
Pitfall
The bag was unattended from its owner.
The bag was unattended by its owner.
When expressing who is not watching the object, use the preposition 'by' rather than 'from'.
Real-World Examples
“Among the Baduy people in the Kanekes region of Indonesia, fallen durians are considered public property, and neighbors often help each other sell unattended fruit.” “Some businesses even placed radios beside unattended phones, letting local broadcasts fill the dead air while customers waited.” Etymology
From un- + attended.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/unattended