unheard

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'unheard' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use 'unheard' to describe something that has not been heard or mentioned before. For example, "He had an extraordinary idea but it went unheard".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

There is an unheard underclass who scorn politicians, laugh out loud at the local paper, frighten the middle class with their potentially threatening swagger, and continue to support two of the fallen giants of fubble, City and Rovers.

The Guardian

"It was kind of unheard of at that point," she says.

The Guardian - Film

She took one of the few options open to pregnant adolescents in South Sudan, where abortion is illegal and modern contraceptive methods are almost unheard of.

The Guardian

It's not just in East Africa that these stories remain unheard.

The Guardian

To have a prominent political figure challenging the power and message of the Israel lobby is almost unheard of in most western nations – which is precisely what makes the just released diaries of former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr all the more remarkable.

The Guardian - Opinion

To empower marginalised communities we need to reconnect with political mobilisations at the grassroots level, which can truly give voice to the unheard.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

It cost $24m, in 1981 an unheard-of amount for an inherently small-scale film, and was withdrawn a week after release.

The Guardian

What other outfit would take an unheard-of comic book like Guardians of the Galaxy and turn it into a box office draw?

The Guardian - Film

"What other outfit would take an unheard-of comic book like Guardians of the Galaxy and turn it into a huge box-office draw?

The Guardian - Film

Robins protests that Lee is the first to dismiss Russell Howard's Good News as irredeemably mainstream, "without acknowledging it did far more for new, unheard-of acts than he did".

The Guardian

He is best known for 2004's Yorkshire-based romance My Summer of Love, which starred a then-unheard-of Emily Blunt.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unheard" to emphasize that something has not been listened to or acknowledged, especially when highlighting marginalized voices or neglected issues. For example, "The cries of the refugees went unheard by the international community."

Common error

Don't use "unheard" interchangeably with "unseen" or "undiscovered" unless the context specifically relates to sound or being listened to. "Unseen" relates to visual perception, while "undiscovered" relates to something new or not yet found.

Linguistic Context

The word "unheard" primarily functions as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something that has not been heard, listened to, or acknowledged. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "unheard" effectively describes something not heard, listened to, or acknowledged, as validated by Ludwig AI. Its usage spans various contexts, from highlighting social issues in News & Media to describing rarity in Formal & Business settings. While grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in journalistic contexts, alternatives like "unnoticed" or "unrecognized" may offer greater precision depending on the intended nuance. Remember to differentiate it from terms related to visual perception or discovery to maintain clarity and accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Unnoticed

Focuses on the lack of observation or recognition.

Unrecognized

Emphasizes a lack of acknowledgment or validation.

Unknown

Highlights a state of being unfamiliar or not widely recognized.

Undiscovered

Implies something exists but has not yet been found or revealed.

Unprecedented

Indicates something that has never occurred before.

Unpublicized

Refers to information not made widely available.

Unreported

Suggests a lack of documentation or broadcasting of information.

Unacknowledged

Focuses on the lack of acceptance or admission of something.

Unheeded

Emphasizes a lack of attention or compliance.

Unchronicled

Relates to events or stories not written down or recorded.

FAQs

How can I use "unheard" in a sentence?

You can use "unheard" to describe something that has not been heard or listened to. For instance, "Her pleas for help went unheard", or "The band released unheard tracks from their recording sessions".

What's the difference between "unheard" and "unnoticed"?

"Unheard" implies that something wasn't listened to, while "unnoticed" suggests something wasn't observed. For example, "His complaints went unheard" focuses on a lack of attention, while "His arrival went unnoticed" focuses on a lack of observation.

What are some alternatives to saying "unheard"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "unnoticed", "unrecognized", or "unknown". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "virtually unheard of"?

Yes, "virtually unheard of" is a valid and commonly used expression. It means something is very rare or almost nonexistent, as in, "Bank robberies are now virtually unheard of".