# unfinished

/ənˈfɪnɪʃt/ (US) · /ʌnfˈɪnɪʃt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unfinished
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. not complete

adjective · CEFR B1

describing a task or piece of work that is not yet done.

For teachers: referring to a task, project, or piece of work that has been started but not brought to a conclusion.

- I have some unfinished business to take care of before I can leave.
- The author left behind several unfinished manuscripts that were eventually edited and published by his estate years after his death.

### 2. without a final coating

adjective · CEFR B2

describing a surface, like wood, that has not been painted or polished.

For teachers: referring to a material or object that lacks a final protective or decorative coating such as varnish, paint, or polish.

- The unfinished wooden table looked very natural in the garden.
- The architect specified unfinished concrete for the interior walls to achieve a raw, industrial aesthetic throughout the building.

## Examples

- I have an unfinished book on my nightstand.
- The construction crew left the house unfinished after the company ran out of money for materials.
- Scholars continue to debate the intended ending of the author's unfinished manuscript, which was discovered in a desk drawer decades after his death.

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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.