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Meaning & use

unclear

adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌʌnˈklɪə/
US/ˌʌnˈklɪr/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Not easy to understand or know because the information is not specific or complete.

    Grammar: Often followed by about or on: unclear about the rules. Can also take a clause: unclear whether he will come.

    Patterns

    • unclear about something
    • unclear on something
    • unclear whether/if ...
    • it is unclear what/why/how ...

    The instructions were unclear, so I called the office.

    She was unclear about what time the meeting started.

    It is still unclear whether the store will open on Sunday.

  2. adjectivecomparable

    Not easy to see, hear, or recognize; not clear to the senses.

    Grammar: Describes something you cannot perceive well, e.g. unclear image, unclear sound.

    Patterns

    • unclear image
    • unclear sound
    • unclear picture

    The photo was unclear because the camera moved.

    His voice was unclear on the phone, so I asked him to repeat.

    The writing on the old sign is unclear.

Word forms

comparativeunclearer
superlativeunclearest

Common combinations

unclear about
I'm unclear about the new schedule.
unclear on
He was unclear on the details of the plan.
remain unclear
The cause of the fire remains unclear.
make something unclear
The bad translation made the message unclear.
unclear whether
It is unclear whether she will accept the job.

Synonyms and how they differ

ambiguous
Ambiguous means having more than one possible meaning, while unclear means not easy to understand at all; ambiguous often suggests deliberate vagueness.
vague
Vague means not expressed in detail, often because the speaker is not sure; unclear can also mean not clearly seen or heard.
confusing
Confusing describes something that makes you feel puzzled, while unclear simply describes a lack of clarity.

Opposites

clearobviouscertain

Word family

clearly adverb
In a way that is easy to understand.
clarity noun
The quality of being clear and easy to understand.
clarify verb
To make something clearer or easier to understand.

Commonly confused: unclear or unclear vs. not clear?

unclear vs unclear vs. not clear

Unclear is one word, but you can also say 'not clear' with the same meaning; 'not clear' is more common in speech.

Practice

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