unbuilt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unbuilt" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that has not been constructed or developed yet. An example is: "The unbuilt project has raised concerns among the community." Alternative expressions include "not constructed" and "yet to be built."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Almost 10,000 new homes went unbuilt in the run up to the general election thanks to this one man alone.

The Guardian

A promised new road cutting travel times to shops and hospitals is still unbuilt.

The Economist

The disaster was worsened by the illegal building of houses under the dyke.Many other existing dams need urgent repairs; many new ones are planned but unbuilt.

The Economist

But a lot of housing was also unbuilt.

The Economist

At China's insistence, the gas will come from new fields in eastern Siberia and will pass through an as yet unbuilt pipeline the better for ensuring that it will not be diverted elsewhere.

The Economist

Monumental and institutional buildings take their place in a loose and predominantly residential urban fabric that leaves much land unbuilt even in the areas of densest development.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Today, we don't need Macaulay's detailed illustrations to see buildings being unbuilt.

The New Yorker

Hence the stations are a parade of Constructionist abstractions, stylized log cabins, sleek neo-Classical monoliths and other architectural surprises staring out at diminutive concrete villages — monumental anchors to unbuilt cities.

The New York Times - Travel

While a new airport has opened 60km from the city, Golden City remains unbuilt with long walls surrounding the land.

The Guardian

NEARLY a decade ago All Nippon Airways ANAA) brushed aside doubts about Boeing's as-yet unbuilt 787 "Dreamliner" and placed the biggest launch order for a new jet in the planemaker's history: 50 aircraft.

The Economist

A new law is intended to protect homebuyers from fraud: thousands have handed over deposits, only for their apartments to stay unbuilt or be sold to others.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unbuilt" to specifically describe structures or infrastructure that were intended to be built but have not been. For broader concepts of unrealized plans, consider "unrealized" or "unfulfilled".

Common error

Avoid using "unbuilt" when you mean "uninhabited". "Unbuilt" refers to a structure that was never constructed, while "uninhabited" describes a place where no one lives, even if buildings are present.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "unbuilt" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns, typically referring to structures, designs, or projects that were planned but never physically realized. Ludwig AI provides several examples that showcase this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

39%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unbuilt" functions as an adjective used to describe something that was planned or designed but never physically constructed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used, especially in news and media, encyclopedias and science. When writing, it's important to differentiate "unbuilt" from similar words like "uninhabited" and "unfinished". It's also helpful to consider alternatives like "not yet constructed" or "yet to be built" to add variety to your writing. With a source quality score of 86 and an expert rating of 4.5, "unbuilt" is a reliable and precise term for describing unrealized construction projects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not yet constructed

Emphasizes the lack of construction at the present time.

yet to be built

Highlights the future possibility of construction.

not constructed

Directly states the absence of construction.

unconstructed

A less common but synonymous term.

proposed but not built

Highlights the proposal stage without actual construction.

never built

Emphasizes that the project was planned but never executed.

still in planning

Focuses on the planning stage before construction.

under development

Indicates that the project is in the early stages.

on the drawing board

Implies that the project is only in the design phase.

not realized

Broader term indicating the project never came to fruition.

FAQs

How can I use "unbuilt" in a sentence?

"Unbuilt" is an adjective that describes something that has not yet been constructed. For example: "The plans for the "unbuilt bridge" were eventually abandoned due to budget constraints."

What are some alternatives to saying "unbuilt"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "not yet constructed", "yet to be built", or "not constructed". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "the unbuilt building"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Unbuilt" is an adjective that modifies the noun "building", indicating that the building was planned but never actually constructed.

What is the difference between "unbuilt" and "unfinished"?

"Unbuilt" means that something was never constructed at all, while "unfinished" means that construction began but was never completed. An "unfinished house", for instance, exists in some form, whereas an "unbuilt house" only exists in plans.