Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

2 ADJ If you describe a person's behaviour or remarks as unbecoming , you mean that they are shocking and unsuitable for that person. [FORMAL ] □ [+ to ] His conduct was totally unbecoming to an officer in the British armed services. □ [+ of ] Those involved had performed acts unbecoming of university students.

un|be|known /ʌ nb I noʊ n/ The form unbeknownst /ʌ nb I noʊ nst/ is also used. PHRASE If something happens unbeknown to you or unbeknownst to you, you do not know about it. □ [+ to ] I am appalled that children can mount up debts unbeknown to their parents. □ [+ to ] Unbeknownst to her father, she began taking dancing lessons.

un|be|liev|able /ʌ nb I liː vəb ^ə l/

1 ADJ If you say that something is unbelievable , you are emphasizing that it is very good, impressive, intense, or extreme. [EMPHASIS ] □  His guitar solos are just unbelievable. □  It was an unbelievable moment when Chris won the gold medal. ●  un|be|liev|ably /ʌ nb I liː vəbli/ ADV □  Our car was still going unbelievably well. □  He beamed: 'Unbelievably, we have now made it to the final twice.'

2 ADJ You can use unbelievable to emphasize that you think something is very bad or shocking. [EMPHASIS ] □  I find it unbelievable that people can accept this sort of behaviour. ●  un|be|liev|ably ADV □  What you did was unbelievably stupid. □  Unbelievably, our Government are now planning to close this magnificent institution.

3 ADJ If an idea or statement is unbelievable , it seems so unlikely to be true that you cannot believe it. □  I still find this story both fascinating and unbelievable. □  I know it sounds unbelievable but I never wanted to cheat. ●  un|be|liev|ably ADV □  Lainey was, unbelievably, pregnant again.

un|be|liev|er /ʌ nb I liː və ^r / (unbelievers ) N‑COUNT People who do not believe in a particular religion are sometimes referred to as unbelievers .

un|be|liev|ing /ʌ nb I liː v I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe someone as unbelieving , you mean that they do not believe something that they have been told. □  He looked at me with unbelieving eyes.

un|bend /ʌ nbe nd/ (unbends , unbending , unbent ) VERB If someone unbends , their attitude becomes less strict than it was. □ [V ] In her dying days the old Queen unbent a little.

un|bend|ing /ʌ nbe nd I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe a person or their behaviour as unbending , you mean that they have very strict beliefs and attitudes, which they are unwilling to change. □  He was rigid and unbending. □  …her unbending opposition to the old regime.

un|bi|ased /ʌ nba I əst/ also unbiassed ADJ If you describe someone or something as unbiased , you mean they are fair and not likely to support one particular person or group involved in something. □  There is no clear and unbiased information available for consumers. □  The researchers were expected to be unbiased. □  …an unbiased jury.

un|bid|den /ʌ nb I d ^ə n/ ADJ [ADJ after v, v-link ADJ , ADJ n] If something happens unbidden , it happens without you expecting or wanting it to happen. [LITERARY ] □  The name came unbidden to Cook's mind–Ashley Stoker.

un|bind /ʌ nba I nd/ (unbinds , unbinding , unbound ) VERB If you unbind something or someone, you take off a piece of cloth, string, or rope that has been tied round them. □ [V n] She unbound her hair and let it flow loose in the wind. □ [V -ed] Many cultures still have fairly strict rules about women displaying unbound hair.