Word
unkempt
Phoneticsun·kempt, stress on the second syllable
US/ənˈkɛmpt/
UK/ʌnkˈɛmpt/
Definition
adj. messy and not neat, especially hair, clothes, or a garden. You use it when someone or something looks like it needs care.
adj. lacking neatness or order in appearance, especially regarding hair, clothing, or surroundings. Often implies neglect rather than deliberate style.
Examples
“He has unkempt hair and old shoes.”
“After the long camping trip, the kids come home with unkempt hair and dirty clothes.”
“The detective noted the man's unkempt beard and wrinkled coat, signs of weeks spent sleeping in his car while following the case.”
Examples
simple
“He has unkempt hair and old shoes.”
contextual
“After the long camping trip, the kids come home with unkempt hair and dirty clothes.”
complex
“The detective noted the man's unkempt beard and wrinkled coat, signs of weeks spent sleeping in his car while following the case.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “unkempt” in context.
Verb
01. appear unkempt
“The front lawn appeared unkempt after weeks without mowing.”
verb + adj
02. become unkempt
“The garden quickly became unkempt during the rainy summer.”
verb + adj
03. grow unkempt
“His beard will grow unkempt if he doesn't trim it weekly.”
verb + adj
04. leave unkempt
“They left the old cemetery completely unkempt and overgrown.”
verb + adj
05. look unkempt
“You look unkempt in that creased shirt; go and change.”
verb + adj
Adjective
06. deliberately unkempt
“The actor cultivated a deliberately unkempt look for the role.”
adv + adj
07. rather unkempt
“He looked rather unkempt after the long overnight flight.”
adv + adj
08. slightly unkempt
“Her flat looked slightly unkempt, with books piled everywhere.”
adv + adj
Noun
09. unkempt appearance
“Despite his unkempt appearance, he was a brilliant engineer.”
adj + noun
10. let the garden grow unkempt
“They let the garden grow unkempt all summer.”
11. look a bit unkempt
“He looked a bit unkempt in his wrinkled suit after the trip.”
12. turn up looking unkempt
“He turned up looking unkempt for the job interview.”
Usage
Typically placed before the noun it modifies; also used predicatively after 'look' or 'appear'.
Real-World Examples
“The grass along the path was patchy and unkempt.” “The economist, known for his unkempt hair and provocative social media presence, famously presented tech mogul Elon Musk with a chainsaw at a Washington event earlier this year.” “In his most popular clip, this musician — a youthful man sporting curly hair and a relaxed, unkempt lumberjack beard — is seen in the passenger seat of a vehicle, strumming a soulful, twangy melody while gazing either skyward or off to the side.” “Mr. Seidenberg, characterized by a missing front tooth and a penchant for unkempt, unbuttoned shirts, possessed a poetic and romantic spirit.” Etymology
From earlier unkembed, unkemmed, from Middle English unkempt (“uncombed”), equivalent to un- + kempt. Compare Old Norse úkembdr (uncombed; unkempt"; > Icelandic ókembdur), German ungekämmt (“unkempt”), Dutch ongekamd. More at kemb.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- 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
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/unkempt