Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

un|prom|is|ing /ʌ nprɒ m I s I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe something as unpromising , you think that it is unlikely to be successful or produce anything good in the future. □  In fact, his business career had distinctly unpromising beginnings. □  Their land looked so unpromising that the colonists eventually gave most of it back.

un|pro|nounce|able /ʌ nprənaʊ nsəb ^ə l/ ADJ An unpronounceable word or name is too difficult to say.

un|pro|tect|ed /ʌ nprəte kt I d/

1 ADJ [ADJ n, v-link ADJ , ADJ after v] An unprotected person or place is not looked after or defended, and so they may be harmed or attacked. □  What better target than an unprotected girl, going along that river walkway in the dark? □  The landing beaches would be unprotected.

2 ADJ [ADJ n, v-link ADJ , ADJ after v] If something is unprotected , it is not covered or treated with anything, and so it may easily be damaged. □  Exposure of unprotected skin to the sun carries the risk of developing skin cancer. □  This leaves fertile soil unprotected and prone to erosion.

3 ADJ [ADJ n] If two people have unprotected sex, they do not use a condom when they have sex.

un|prov|en /ʌ npruː v ^ə n, -proʊ v-/ or unproved /ʌnpruː vd/ ADJ If something is unproven , it has not definitely been proved to be true. □  There are a lot of unproven allegations flying around.

un|pro|voked /ʌ nprəvoʊ kt/ ADJ If someone makes an unprovoked attack, they attack someone who has not tried to harm them in any way.

un|pub|lished /ʌ npʌ bl I ʃt/ ADJ An unpublished book, letter, or report has never been published. An unpublished writer has never had his or her work published.

un|pun|ished /ʌ npʌ n I ʃt/ ADJ [v-link ADJ , ADJ n, ADJ after v] If a criminal or crime goes unpunished , the criminal is not punished. □ [+ by ] Persistent criminals have gone unpunished by the courts. □  I have been amazed at times that cruelty can go unpunished.

un|quali|fied /ʌ nkwɒ l I fa I d/

1 ADJ If you are unqualified , you do not have any qualifications, or you do not have the right qualifications for a particular job. □ [+ for ] She was unqualified for the job. □  Unqualified members of staff at the hospital were not sufficiently supervised.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Unqualified means total or unlimited. [EMPHASIS ] □  The event was an unqualified success. □  They have given almost unqualified backing to the government.

un|ques|tion|able /ʌnkwe stʃənəb ^ə l/ ADJ If you describe something as unquestionable , you are emphasizing that it is so obviously true or real that nobody can doubt it. [EMPHASIS ] □  He inspires affection and respect as a man of unquestionable integrity. □  There is an unquestionable link between job losses and deteriorating services. ●  un|ques|tion|ably /ʌnkwe stʃənəbli/ ADV □  They have seen the change as unquestionably beneficial to the country. □  He is unquestionably a star.

un|ques|tioned /ʌnkwe stʃənd/

1 ADJ You use unquestioned to emphasize that something is so obvious, real, or great that nobody can doubt it or disagree with it. [EMPHASIS ] □  His commitment has been unquestioned. □  The play was an immediate and unquestioned success in London.

2 ADJ If something or someone is unquestioned , they are accepted by everyone, without anyone doubting or disagreeing. □  Stalin was the unquestioned ruler of the Soviet Union from the late 1920s until his death in 1953.