that's unbelievable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that's unbelievable" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used when expressing surprise or disbelief at something. For example: "I just won a million dollars in the lottery - that's unbelievable!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

"Oh my God, that's unbelievable," he said.

The New York Times

"To win 14 in a row, that's unbelievable," Brady said.

The New York Times - Sports

People come with tremendous passion … They have anger that's unbelievable.

The Guardian

He added that the company had a product pipeline that's "unbelievable".

The New York Times - Tech

You can go out there, and you stand on a mountaintop, and it's so quiet that you get this sense of space that's unbelievable.

The New York Times - Magazine

He never stops running and working hard for the team and never looks tired, and for an 18-year-old kid that's unbelievable.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

Seeing Both do that was unbelievable.

The Guardian - Sport

"What an innings, that was unbelievable.

BBC

Tell Lowry that was unbelievable".

Los Angeles Times

"You have these moments that are unbelievable.

Los Angeles Times

"They have anger that is unbelievable.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that's unbelievable" to express genuine surprise or disbelief. Ensure the context supports the strong emotion conveyed by the phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "that's unbelievable" for minor inconveniences or commonplace events. Overusing it diminishes its impact and can make your speech sound insincere.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that's unbelievable" functions primarily as an exclamatory expression. It communicates a speaker's reaction to a surprising, unexpected, or remarkable event or piece of information, as Ludwig shows.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that's unbelievable" is a common phrase used to express surprise, disbelief, or amazement. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically sound and appropriate for various contexts, particularly in news and media. While versatile, it’s important to reserve it for situations that genuinely warrant such a strong emotional response to avoid diluting its impact. Consider alternatives like "that's incredible" or "that's astonishing" for nuances or formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that's incredible

Replaces "unbelievable" with a synonym conveying a strong sense of impressiveness.

that's amazing

Emphasizes the astonishing nature of something, differing slightly in tone.

that's astonishing

Highlights the surprising and remarkable quality, with a more formal tone.

that's remarkable

Focuses on the noteworthy and exceptional aspect of something.

that's extraordinary

Suggests something beyond the ordinary, indicating a high degree of unusualness.

that's astounding

Similar to amazing but with a stronger emphasis on overwhelming surprise.

that's mind-blowing

More informal, suggesting something is so impressive it is difficult to comprehend.

that's hard to believe

Shifts the focus to the difficulty in accepting something as true.

that's quite something

An understatement that implies the thing being discussed is impressive or surprising.

i can't believe it

Expresses personal disbelief more directly, rather than describing the thing itself.

FAQs

What does "that's unbelievable" mean?

The phrase "that's unbelievable" expresses strong disbelief, surprise, or amazement at something. It indicates that something is difficult to accept as true or is highly impressive.

When is it appropriate to use "that's unbelievable"?

Use "that's unbelievable" when you genuinely find something surprising, shocking, or incredibly impressive. It's suitable for situations where the information or event deviates significantly from expectations.

What are some alternatives to "that's unbelievable"?

You can use alternatives like "that's incredible", "that's amazing", or "that's astonishing" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "that's unbelievable" formal or informal?

"That's unbelievable" is generally considered informal but acceptable in most everyday conversations. For more formal settings, consider using alternatives like "that's remarkable" or "that's extraordinary".