# unbelievable

/ˌənbəˈɫivəbəɫ/ (US) · /ʌnbɪlˈiːvəbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unbelievable
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. amazing or extreme

adjective · CEFR B1 · Informal

used to describe something so surprising or good that you can hardly believe it.

For teachers: denoting something extraordinary or astonishing; often used as an intensifier for positive or negative extremes.

- The view from the top of the mountain was absolutely unbelievable.
- The athlete showed unbelievable stamina, maintaining a record-breaking pace throughout the final stages of the marathon.

Usage: Often used with the intensifier 'absolutely'.

### 2. not credible

adjective · CEFR B2

difficult to believe because it seems unlikely or untrue.

For teachers: lacking credibility or plausibility; difficult to accept as a factual account.

- His excuse for being late was so unbelievable that nobody laughed.
- The witness provided an unbelievable account of the events, which was quickly contradicted by the forensic evidence presented in court.

## Examples

- The view from the top of the mountain is unbelievable.
- It is unbelievable that the team managed to win after being three goals down at halftime.
- The witness provided an unbelievable account of the events, which led the jury to question the reliability of the entire prosecution case.

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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.