Word
unnoticed
Phoneticsun·no·ticed, stress on the second syllable
US/ənˈnoʊtɪst/
UK/ʌnnˈəʊtɪsd/
Definition
adj. not seen or heard by anyone. You use this to describe something that happens without people paying attention to it.
adj. not observed, perceived, or remarked upon. Often used to describe subtle changes or actions performed discreetly.
Examples
“She tried to slip out of the room unnoticed.”
“The small error in the contract went unnoticed for months until a lawyer finally spotted it during a routine audit.”
“While the grand architectural changes were praised by the public, the subtle improvements to the building's structural integrity remained largely unnoticed by the casual observer.”
Examples
simple
“She tried to slip out of the room unnoticed.”
contextual
“The small error in the contract went unnoticed for months until a lawyer finally spotted it during a routine audit.”
complex
“While the grand architectural changes were praised by the public, the subtle improvements to the building's structural integrity remained largely unnoticed by the casual observer.”
Usage
Often follows linking verbs like 'go', 'pass', or 'remain'.
Pitfall
he did it unnoticedly
he did it unnoticed
Learners often try to add '-ly' to create an adverb, but 'unnoticed' is frequently used as a predicative adjective or a depictive secondary predicate.
Real-World Examples
“The team wanted to see if they could locate rare cell types in CAA that are often critical in cancer but can go unnoticed depending on the method used to detect them.” “In those cases, evidence of life is present, yet it goes unnoticed.” Etymology
From un- + noticed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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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englishreference.com/q/unnoticed