completely unknown

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "completely unknown" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it to describe something that nobody knows or understands. For example: "The scientist's solution to the problem was completely unknown to the rest of the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Everything is completely unknown.

The New York Times - Sports

"Over here, they're completely unknown".

The Guardian - Arts

All this is completely unknown in Dresden".

The New Yorker

"It's completely unknown by most Londoners.

Independent

"This is a completely unknown protein.

Independent

The woman, Maria Schneider, was completely unknown.

The Guardian - Film

"And its whereabouts were completely unknown since the 1960s".

The New York Times - Arts

"The Philippines is a completely unknown quanity here.

The Guardian

Still, Kunitz was an almost completely unknown poet.

The New Yorker

The Turnage narrative was completely unknown to scholars until year.

The New York Times

This time last year, I was completely unknown.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "completely unknown" to emphasize a total absence of prior knowledge or awareness. It's stronger than simply saying "unknown".

Common error

While acceptable in many contexts, using "completely unknown" excessively in formal or academic writing can sound less professional. Consider alternatives like "uninvestigated" or "unexplored" for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely unknown" functions as a modifier, specifically an adjectival phrase, providing further description to a noun. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability in written English, confirming its role in adding emphasis to the state of being unknown.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

38%

Huffington Post

9%

Less common in

The New Yorker

3%

Forbes

1%

TechCrunch

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "completely unknown" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adjectival phrase that amplifies the idea of something being unknown, indicating a total absence of knowledge. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for use in writing. With a neutral register, it fits diverse contexts, particularly news and science, where precision is key. When writing, use this phrase to stress a complete lack of prior awareness, but be mindful of sounding overly informal in highly formal settings. Alternatives include "entirely unfamiliar" or "utterly unheard of" depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

entirely unfamiliar

Focuses on the lack of familiarity rather than the absence of knowledge.

totally unrecognized

Emphasizes the lack of recognition or acknowledgement.

utterly unheard of

Highlights the novelty and lack of prior occurrence.

absolutely uncharted

Implies venturing into territory without maps or previous exploration.

virtually unstudied

Specifically refers to a lack of academic or scientific investigation.

fully uninvestigated

Highlights the absence of scrutiny or examination.

largely unacknowledged

Indicates that something is not given the importance or recognition it deserves.

practically undisclosed

Suggests that information is being withheld or has not been revealed.

genuinely mysterious

Focuses on the enigmatic nature of something, suggesting it defies understanding.

patently obscure

Emphasizes the difficulty of understanding or perceiving something.

FAQs

How can I use "completely unknown" in a sentence?

You can use "completely unknown" to describe something that nobody knows or understands, such as, "The origins of the artifact are "completely unknown"."

What are some alternatives to "completely unknown"?

Alternatives include "entirely unfamiliar", "utterly unheard of", or "totally unrecognized" depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "completely unknown"? Isn't "unknown" enough?

While "unknown" implies a lack of knowledge, "completely unknown" emphasizes a total absence of any prior knowledge or awareness, strengthening the statement.

Which is better, "largely unknown" or "completely unknown"?

"Largely unknown" suggests some partial knowledge exists, whereas "completely unknown" indicates no knowledge whatsoever. The choice depends on the degree of obscurity you wish to convey.