untapped

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "untapped" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the term to describe a resource that has not yet been used or explored. For example: "The potential of the city's untapped talent was remarkable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We should now consider why African countries must invest in science and technology, how science creates wealth, and what Africa must do to achieve this "new liberation" – using its untapped natural wealth, human resources, and effective policy execution to create explosive wealth that by-passes western-led globalisation and creates national and continental technology hubs.

The Guardian

"That is a large and growing opportunity that should no longer be left untapped," he said.

The Guardian

József Váradi, chief executive, said the Hungarian company had plenty of growth potential because there was still a lot of untapped opportunity in Europe.

The Guardian - Business

"Amec has both a sound base of quality businesses and a great deal of untapped potential.

The Guardian - Business

But a lack of proper regulation risks profiteers exploiting untapped resources.

The Guardian

This is a legacy which we should be proud of, and not just because of what it enabled our arts and creative industries to achieve but also because of the untapped potential in the sector today.

The Guardian

The need to compete for top talent often led these leagues to recruit players from new or untapped sources.

The Guardian - Sport

The new government needs to act quickly to turn around our struggling NHS and we believe huge potential exists in a wider untapped workforce which includes firemen, hairdressers, podiatrists and pharmacists".

The Guardian

With recipients receiving on average £207,000 – it is clear there is untapped potential for more charities to get involved.

The Guardian

Under these plans local authorities that want to build can use others councils' untapped borrowing powers to raise finance.

The Guardian

The Abbot Point plans are a key part of the efforts to open up one of the world's largest untapped sources of fossil fuel carbon – Queensland's Galilee Basin.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "untapped" to emphasize the potential and value that remains in a resource or opportunity. For example, describe the "untapped" talent pool within a community.

Common error

Avoid using "untapped" as a verb. It's primarily an adjective. Instead of saying "we untapped the resources", use "we exploited the resources" or "we utilized the resources".

Linguistic Context

The word "untapped" primarily functions as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate that something (like a resource, potential, or market) has not yet been fully used or exploited. Ludwig confirms its adjectival nature and provides numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

31%

Science

31%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "untapped" is a versatile adjective used to describe resources, potential, or opportunities that have not yet been fully utilized. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples across various contexts, primarily in news, business, and scientific domains. While alternatives such as "unexploited" and "unrealized" exist, "untapped" effectively conveys the idea of hidden potential waiting to be discovered and leveraged. It is important to use "untapped" as an adjective and avoid using it as a verb. Overall, "untapped" is a valuable word for emphasizing the potential and availability of underutilized resources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unexploited

Focuses on the lack of active utilization of a resource.

unrealized

Highlights the potential that has not yet come to fruition.

undeveloped

Emphasizes the state of being not yet brought to a more advanced state.

unutilized

Stresses the absence of being put to practical use.

dormant

Implies a state of inactivity or potential for future activation.

latent

Highlights a hidden or concealed potential.

untouched

Emphasizes the pristine, unaltered state of something.

virgin

Implies a pure and unused condition.

unharnessed

Focuses on the lack of control or direction of a force or resource.

available

Indicates that something is ready and accessible for use.

FAQs

How can I use the word "untapped" in a sentence?

You can use "untapped" to describe resources, potential, markets, or opportunities that haven't been fully utilized. For instance, "The region has an untapped source of geothermal energy."

What are some alternatives to the word "untapped"?

Consider alternatives like "unexploited", "unrealized", or "undeveloped", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "untapped potential" or should I use another phrase?

"Untapped potential" is a perfectly correct and commonly used phrase. It effectively conveys the idea of potential that hasn't been realized or utilized.

What's the difference between "untapped" and "unused"?

"Untapped" implies that something has potential that hasn't been explored, while "unused" simply means something hasn't been used, regardless of its potential.