English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adj

unearthly

uhn-URTH-lee

Unearthly (adj) means Strange or eerie in a way that seems more than natural. Example: “An unearthly silence fell over the abandoned village.”

adj
1
Strange or eerie in a way that seems more than natural.
"An unearthly silence fell over the abandoned village."
2
Ridiculously early, late, or extreme (used informally).
"He called me at some unearthly hour of the morning."

How to use unearthly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEerie and otherworldly, or (informally) absurdly extreme, as in "an unearthly hour."

Common pairings
unearthly silence unearthly hour unearthly glow

Word forms

unearthlier comparative, unearthliest superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “unearthly” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

An _____ silence fell over the abandoned village.

Etymology

From un- ("not") plus earthly.

Rhymes for unearthly

See all rhymes for unearthly →

Frequently asked questions

What does “unearthly” mean?

The word “unearthly” means strange or eerie in a way that seems more than natural. In plain terms, eerie and otherworldly, or (informally) absurdly extreme, as in "an unearthly hour.".

How do you pronounce “unearthly”?

“Unearthly” is pronounced uhn-URTH-lee (/ʌnˈɝθ.li/ in IPA).

How do you use “unearthly” in a sentence?

Here is “unearthly” used in a sentence: “An unearthly silence fell over the abandoned village.”

What part of speech is “unearthly”?

“Unearthly” is an adjective.

How many meanings does “unearthly” have?

“Unearthly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: strange or eerie in a way that seems more than natural.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial