Word
unheard
Phoneticsun·heard, stress on the second syllable
US/ənˈhɝd/
UK/ʌnhˈɜːd/
Definitions
01not perceived by the ear
B1 · Intermediate
adj. describes a sound that no one hears or notices.
adj. not perceived by the sense of hearing; physically silent or occurring without an audience.
“The small bell made a tiny sound that went unheard in the noisy street.”
“The subtle clicking of the mechanism went unheard amidst the industrial roar of the factory floor.”
02ignored or not listened to
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. describes when people do not listen to your ideas, advice, or complaints.
adj. ignored or disregarded by those in a position to listen or act.
“The students felt that their complaints about the food went unheard by the school.”
“Despite numerous warnings from the engineering team, their concerns remained unheard until the system finally failed.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03unprecedented or new
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. describes something so new or extreme that it has never happened before.
adj. unprecedented or unknown in previous experience; often used in the phrase 'unheard of'.
“In the past, it was unheard of for a woman to work as a doctor.”
“The level of public interest in the local election was previously unheard of in this quiet rural district.”
Usage
Frequently appears in the fixed phrase 'unheard of' to describe something shocking or socially unacceptable.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“While it is rare, it is not unheard of.” “But then the Harpo recording got mixed in with his father’s tapes, forgotten and unheard.” Etymology
From Middle English unherd, unherde, from Old English unġehīered (“unheard”), equivalent to un- + heard. Cognate with West Frisian ûnheard (“unheard”), Dutch ongehoord (“unheard”), German ungehört (“unheard”).
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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