unclear
uhn-KLEER
Unclear (adj) means not obvious or easy to understand; ambiguous. Example: “The meaning of his message was unclear, so I asked him to explain.”
adj
1
Not obvious or easy to understand; ambiguous.
"The meaning of his message was unclear, so I asked him to explain."
"It's unclear who will take over the project."
"The instructions were unclear about which cable to use."
2
Hard to see or make out.
"In the thick fog, the road ahead was unclear to the drivers."
"The writing on the faded sign was too unclear to read from here."
"The old photo was too unclear to identify anyone in it."
How to use unclear
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot clearly understood, seen, or decided — leaves you uncertain.
Common pairings
it's unclear whether
remain unclear
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- unclears
- Past tense
- uncleared
- Comparative
- unclearer, more unclear
- Superlative
- unclearest, most unclear
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The meaning of his message was _____, so I asked him to explain.
Etymology
From Middle English unclere, from un- + clear.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for unclear
See all rhymes for unclear →Frequently asked questions
What does “unclear” mean?
The word “unclear” means not obvious or easy to understand; ambiguous. In plain terms, not clearly understood, seen, or decided — leaves you uncertain.
How do you pronounce “unclear”?
“Unclear” is pronounced uhn-KLEER (/ʌnˈklɪɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “unclear” in a sentence?
Here is “unclear” used in a sentence: “It's unclear who will take over the project.”
What part of speech is “unclear”?
“Unclear” is an adjective.
Where does the word “unclear” come from?
The word “unclear” comes from Middle English. From Middle English unclere, from un- + clear.
Is “unclear” a common word?
“Unclear” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “unclear” have?
“Unclear” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not obvious or easy to understand; ambiguous.
What is the difference between 'unclear' and 'ambiguous'?
'Unclear' broadly means hard to understand or hard to see. 'Ambiguous' is more specific: it means open to more than one interpretation, so something ambiguous is unclear precisely because it could carry two or more meanings.
What is the difference between 'unclear' and 'vague'?
'Unclear' means not easy to understand or make out. 'Vague' means lacking exact detail or definition, so a vague statement is unclear because it is imprecise, whereas something can be unclear for other reasons, such as being poorly worded or hard to see.
Is it correct to say 'it is unclear whether'?
Yes. 'It is unclear whether…' is a standard, slightly formal construction used when something cannot be determined, as in 'It is unclear whether the flight will be delayed.' You can also use 'unclear if', 'unclear how', or 'unclear why'.
Can 'unclear' be used to describe a person?
'Unclear' normally describes things such as instructions, writing, images, or situations rather than people directly. To describe a person, say they were 'unclear about' something, meaning they did not express it clearly or were themselves uncertain.
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