: not known or not well-known
also
: having an unknown value
an unknown quantity
1
: one that is not known or not well-known
especially
: a person who is little known (as to the public)
2
: something that requires discovery, identification, or clarification: such as
a
: a symbol (such as x, y, or z) in a mathematical equation representing an unknown quantity
b
: a specimen (as of bacteria or mixed chemicals) required to be identified as an exercise in appropriate laboratory techniques
Synonyms
Examples of unknown in a Sentence
Adjective
a disease of unknown cause
Much remains unknown about his early life.
Her music was previously unknown outside of Asia.
An unknown number of cases go unreported.
The victim's attacker was unknown to her.
For some unknown reason, my computer crashed.
a book of unknown poems
Noun
explorers venturing off into the unknown
A fear of the unknown kept her from changing jobs.
The director cast an unknown in the lead role.
We're facing too many unknowns.
Recent Examples on the Web
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 19 Apr. 2024
The structural condition of the pier was unknown at the time of the collapse.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024
Further details about the crash are unknown at this time.
—The Enquirer, 19 Apr. 2024
Dozens of migrant deaths at sea had been recorded over that period of time and continue, but officials say the true number is unknown.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Apr. 2024
The cause of death is unknown, the rep said, declining to share further details.
—Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2024
The suspect is unknown and fled the scene after the shooting.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Apr. 2024
These enigmatic sites carry the visitor back to a time when writing and metal tools were unknown, farming was a still novel idea, and stone monuments established a community’s presence on the landscape.
—Dan Falk, Discover Magazine, 6 Apr. 2024
The Ohio Department of Transportation first reported the closure at 7:56 p.m. and announced the reopening a few hours later at 11:06 p.m.
The stretch of highway impacted by the closure is located in the Hartwell area but details of the crash are still unknown at this time.
—Aaron Valdez, The Enquirer, 5 Apr. 2024
Paul Mitchell, The Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2024
There are still many unknowns about chicken domestication.
—Ed Cara / Gizmodo, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2024
Transparency There are still a lot of unknowns in regards to CBD.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Shot in 10 days with a cast of relative unknowns, the micro-budget comedy has more or less passed under the radar, premiering at a bunch of midlevel festivals and receiving a limited release in select U.S. cities.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Apr. 2024
Despite these key developments, many unknowns remain.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 29 Mar. 2024
Facing so many unknowns, U.S. physicists are not clamoring to start planning such a project now, as some press reports have suggested.
—Byadrian Cho, science.org, 28 Mar. 2024
Every obstacle ought to be thrown into a person’s path, because a host of unknowns will face the ultimate winner.
—Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
The promising aspects start with the effective mix of young unknowns and wily veterans stepping into these big roles.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2024
Adjective
The details of the blast in Isfahan are unknown, according to Fars, but the city -- home to several military bases and facilities -- is believed to have been one of several launch sites for Iran's April 13 attack.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 19 Apr. 2024
The structural condition of the pier was unknown at the time of the collapse.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024
Further details about the crash are unknown at this time.
—The Enquirer, 19 Apr. 2024
Dozens of migrant deaths at sea had been recorded over that period of time and continue, but officials say the true number is unknown.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Apr. 2024
The cause of death is unknown, the rep said, declining to share further details.
—Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2024
The suspect is unknown and fled the scene after the shooting.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Apr. 2024
These enigmatic sites carry the visitor back to a time when writing and metal tools were unknown, farming was a still novel idea, and stone monuments established a community’s presence on the landscape.
—Dan Falk, Discover Magazine, 6 Apr. 2024
The Ohio Department of Transportation first reported the closure at 7:56 p.m. and announced the reopening a few hours later at 11:06 p.m.
The stretch of highway impacted by the closure is located in the Hartwell area but details of the crash are still unknown at this time.
—Aaron Valdez, The Enquirer, 5 Apr. 2024
Noun
Then on Election Night, many of these candidates found a Republican, often a complete unknown, in the coveted spot for the General Election.
—Paul Mitchell, The Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2024
There are still many unknowns about chicken domestication.
—Ed Cara / Gizmodo, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2024
Transparency There are still a lot of unknowns in regards to CBD.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Shot in 10 days with a cast of relative unknowns, the micro-budget comedy has more or less passed under the radar, premiering at a bunch of midlevel festivals and receiving a limited release in select U.S. cities.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Apr. 2024
Despite these key developments, many unknowns remain.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 29 Mar. 2024
Facing so many unknowns, U.S. physicists are not clamoring to start planning such a project now, as some press reports have suggested.
—Byadrian Cho, science.org, 28 Mar. 2024
Every obstacle ought to be thrown into a person’s path, because a host of unknowns will face the ultimate winner.
—Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
The promising aspects start with the effective mix of young unknowns and wily veterans stepping into these big roles.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unknown.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to unknown
Dictionary Entries Near unknown
Cite this Entry
“Unknown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unknown. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unknown
1 of 2 adjective
un·known
ˌən-ˈnōn 
: not known
also
: having an unknown value
an unknown quantity
unknown
2 of 2 noun1
: something that is unknown
2
: a symbol (as x, y, or z) representing a quantity whose value is unknown
an equation with two unknowns
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