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Meaning & use

left untreated

phrase·Advancedformalmedical

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UK/ˌleft ʌnˈtriːtɪd/
US/ˌleft ʌnˈtriːtɪd/

Meaning

  1. phrasefixed phraseformalmedical

    not given medical care or attention, especially when this makes a condition worse.

    Grammar: Used after a noun or after a linking verb: an infection left untreated; the wound was left untreated.

    Patterns

    • something left untreated
    • left untreated for a period
    • if left untreated

    The infection, left untreated, can spread to the lungs.

    If left untreated, the disease may become life-threatening.

    A broken bone left untreated can heal in the wrong position.

Common combinations

if left untreated
If left untreated, high blood pressure can damage the heart.
left untreated for weeks
The wound was left untreated for weeks and became infected.
a condition left untreated
A condition left untreated may require surgery later.
left untreated, it can
Left untreated, it can lead to serious complications.

Synonyms and how they differ

untreated
Untreated simply means not treated; left untreated emphasizes that the lack of treatment continued over time or was a result of neglect.
neglected
Neglected means not given proper care, often suggesting blame; left untreated is more neutral and medical.

Opposites

treated

Word family

treat verb
to give medical care to a patient or condition.
treatment noun
medical care given to a patient.
untreated adjective
not given medical treatment.

Commonly confused: left untreated or untreated?

left untreated vs untreated

Untreated can stand alone: The water is untreated. Left untreated is a longer phrase that usually follows the noun and stresses that no treatment was given over time.

Practice

Complete the sentence: 'If left ___, the infection can spread.'

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