unhappy
uhn-HA-pee
Unhappy (adj) means feeling or showing sadness. Example: “The little girl was unhappy because her best friend had moved away.”
adj
1
Feeling or showing sadness.
"The little girl was unhappy because her best friend had moved away."
"She looked unhappy after the phone call."
"He's been unhappy at work for months."
2
Not satisfied with something.
"I was unhappy with the repair, so I asked for a refund."
"The tenants are unhappy about the noise from the building site."
"Many customers are unhappy with the new pricing plan."
How to use unhappy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSad, or dissatisfied with a situation.
Common pairings
unhappy with
unhappy childhood
unhappy marriage
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Word forms
- Plural
- unhappies
- Third person singular
- unhappies
- Past tense
- unhappied
- Comparative
- unhappier, more unhappy
- Superlative
- unhappiest, most unhappy
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The little girl was _____ because her best friend had moved away.
Etymology
From Middle English unhappy, equivalent to un- + happy.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for unhappy
See all rhymes for unhappy →Frequently asked questions
What does “unhappy” mean?
The word “unhappy” means feeling or showing sadness. In plain terms, sad, or dissatisfied with a situation.
How do you pronounce “unhappy”?
“Unhappy” is pronounced uhn-HA-pee (/ʌnˈhæpi/ in IPA).
How do you use “unhappy” in a sentence?
Here is “unhappy” used in a sentence: “She looked unhappy after the phone call.”
What part of speech is “unhappy”?
“Unhappy” is an adjective.
Where does the word “unhappy” come from?
The word “unhappy” comes from Middle English. From Middle English unhappy, equivalent to un- + happy.
Is “unhappy” a common word?
“Unhappy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “unhappy” have?
“Unhappy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: feeling or showing sadness.
What is the difference between unhappy and sad?
Sad names the direct emotion of sorrow, often in response to a specific event, while unhappy tends to describe a broader or longer-lasting state of feeling or showing sadness. Unhappy also has a second sense that sad lacks: being dissatisfied, as in "unhappy with the service."
Should you say unhappy with or unhappy about?
Both are correct but pattern slightly differently. Unhappy with usually points dissatisfaction at a thing, person, or outcome ("unhappy with my grade"), while unhappy about introduces a situation or development ("unhappy about the delay"). In many sentences the two are interchangeable.
Does unhappy always mean sad?
No. Unhappy can describe feeling or showing sadness, but it just as often means not satisfied, as when a customer is unhappy with a purchase. Context tells you whether the word points to emotion or to dissatisfaction.
What is the difference between unhappy and miserable?
Both describe sadness, but miserable is much stronger, suggesting deep wretchedness or acute discomfort, while unhappy covers ordinary sadness or dissatisfaction. You might be unhappy with a haircut but miserable with the flu.
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