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Meaning & use

unspoken

adjective·Academic

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UK/ʌnˈspəʊkən/
US/ʌnˈspoʊkən/

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a noun

    Understood by everyone involved even though nobody has put it into words.

    Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: an unspoken rule, an unspoken understanding.

    Patterns

    • an unspoken rule
    • an unspoken understanding between people

    There was an unspoken rule that nobody touched the last slice of pizza.

    The two sisters had an unspoken agreement never to mention the argument again.

    A heavy, unspoken tension hung over the dinner table.

  2. adjectivecomparable

    Felt or thought but deliberately not said aloud.

    Grammar: Can follow a verb or come before a noun: her fears stayed unspoken; his unspoken fears.

    Patterns

    • remain unspoken
    • leave something unspoken

    Her gratitude remained unspoken, but he could see it in her face.

    He left the worst of his fears unspoken so as not to worry his mother.

    The question hung in the air, unspoken but obvious to everyone.

Common combinations

unspoken rule
The unspoken rule in the office is that nobody emails after eight at night.
unspoken agreement
They had an unspoken agreement to share the cooking.
unspoken tension
Unspoken tension filled the car after the argument.
unspoken understanding
Years of friendship had given them an unspoken understanding.
remain unspoken
Some feelings are best left to remain unspoken.
unspoken thought
Her unspoken thought was that he was lying.

Synonyms and how they differ

tacit
Tacit is more formal and is typical of agreements, consent or approval, whereas unspoken also suits feelings and moods.
implicit
Implicit stresses that something is contained in a situation or statement without being stated, while unspoken stresses that nobody said it.
unsaid
Unsaid usually refers to particular words that were held back, while unspoken is broader and can describe a whole shared understanding.
silent
Silent simply means making no sound, while unspoken suggests a message or meaning that goes unvoiced.

Opposites

explicitspoken

Word family

speak verb
to say words aloud
spoken adjective
said aloud rather than written
outspoken adjective
saying openly what you think, even when it is unwelcome
softly-spoken adjective
having a quiet, gentle voice

Commonly confused: unspoken or unspoilt?

unspoken vs unspoilt

Unspoilt means not damaged or ruined, as in an unspoilt beach; it only looks similar to unspoken.

Practice

Nobody told the new employees, but there was an ______ rule that you never took the boss's parking space.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “unspoken”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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