unsung heroes

Meaning

1. 1nounplural

   People whose good or brave work is not praised or even noticed by the public.

   Grammar: Always plural in this form; for one person say "an unsung hero".

   Patterns

   • the unsung heroes of something
   • unsung heroes who do something
   • be one of the unsung heroes

   The nurses who worked through the night are the unsung heroes of the crisis.

   Her book tells the story of the unsung heroes who built the railway.

   Teachers are often unsung heroes, quietly helping students year after year.

Word forms

Common combinations

the unsung heroes of our time

The film celebrates the unsung heroes of our time, from cleaners to carers.

the real unsung heroes

For me, the real unsung heroes are the volunteers nobody ever photographs.

an unsung hero of science

She died an unsung hero of science, her discoveries credited to others.

remain unsung heroes

These workers remain unsung heroes long after the project ends.

Synonyms and how they differ

underrated people

Use this when someone's skill is not valued enough; "unsung heroes" stresses that they also get no public praise.

the unnoticed

A more neutral, general phrase for people nobody pays attention to; it does not carry the same admiration.

quiet heroes

Close in feeling, but it stresses that they avoid attention rather than that praise is missing.

Opposites

Word family

unsung adjective

Not praised or celebrated, as in "an unsung achievement".

hero noun

A person admired for courage or good deeds.

heroic adjective

Brave or impressive, like a hero.

heroism noun

Great bravery, especially in difficult situations.

Commonly confused: unsung heroes or unsung hero? unsung heroes or antihero?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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