adjective Uncommon

unprepared

Unprepared (adjective) means not ready for something; caught off guard. Example: “The team was unprepared for such tough questions from the board.”

adjective

Not ready for something; caught off guard.

"The team was unprepared for such tough questions from the board."

"She showed up unprepared for the exam and hadn't studied at all."

How to use unprepared

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishNot ready — taken by surprise because you didn't get ready in time.

Common pairings

caught unprepared woefully unprepared

Word forms

more unprepared comparative, unprepareds plural, most unprepared superlative

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The team was _____ for such tough questions from the board.

Etymology

From un- + prepared.

Rhymes for unprepared

Jared shared scared feared flared seared geared squared prepared infrared declared collared

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Frequently asked questions

What does “unprepared” mean?

The word “unprepared” means not ready for something; caught off guard. In plain terms, not ready — taken by surprise because you didn't get ready in time.

How do you use “unprepared” in a sentence?

Here is “unprepared” used in a sentence: “The team was unprepared for such tough questions from the board.”

What part of speech is “unprepared”?

“Unprepared” is an adjective.

Is “unprepared” a common word?

“Unprepared” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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Vocabulary lists that include unprepared:

Words that start with U