Definition of unknownnext
1
as in unfamiliar
happening or existing without one's knowledge unknown to me was the fact that while I was out, my family was hurriedly preparing a surprise birthday party

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unknown By then, archaeologists have concluded, the Tequesta settlement was likely past its peak and had been in a long decline, though the reasons are unknown. Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 Georgia's library dwarfs both countries, and most of it remains unknown outside its borders. Michelle Williams, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Although much of Dabney's life remains unknown, the surviving records reveal more about him than is known about many people from the 18th and 19th centuries. Jonathan Miller, CBS News, 30 June 2026 The number of vehicles involved remained unknown as of Tuesday, according to the coroner. Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unknown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unknown
Adjective
  • Staff weathering the storm The Cubs are more than halfway through the season and playing around a 90-win pace, yet their clubhouse often looks like a scene out of spring training, with new names, unfamiliar faces, and players coming and going.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 1 July 2026
  • Fredericson urges new ruckers to warm up before each session, hydrate well and tell someone the route when heading into unfamiliar areas.
    Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • Last month, many of those companies gathered alongside military officials to address what was clearly an urgent problem requiring novel solutions.
    Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 28 June 2026
  • Preserving a robust problem-solving culture, through methods like case debates and mentorship, is vital to build human expertise AI cannot replicate, preventing a future where organizations lack the ability to tackle novel problems.
    Juliette Han, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
Adjective
  • When that’s not enough, Google may add random noise to the data that can further obscure identities.
    Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026
  • This seems, if anything, deliberately obscure.
    Annie Joy Williams, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
Adjective
  • However, unbeknownst to the girls, the men left the original villa setting and snuck away to Casa Amor, a second filming location where six bombshells in sexy costumes were waiting to steal guys' hearts.
    Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 22 June 2026
  • That same night, unbeknownst to friends and family, the couple spontaneously wed in a courthouse wedding.
    Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026
Adjective
  • Informal Beyblade battles are popping up in strangest of places, with players huddling in parks, gyms and shopping malls.
    Chris Lau, CNN Money, 24 June 2026
  • The falseness of the medium, though, jibed with the falseness of most attempts, throughout American history, to make sense of this enormous, strange man.
    Christopher Hooks, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • What often goes unrecognized is that disability does not diminish intelligence, ambition or capability.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
  • Expecting Women To Perform Emotional Labor Women are often expected to organize celebrations, mentor new employees, mediate conflicts, and provide emotional support—all tasks that benefit organizations but often go unrecognized in promotion decisions.
    Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Adjective
  • The planet’s oceans are at unprecedented temperatures for this time of year, breaking the all-time June record, according to new data, with alarming implications for global weather and marine life.
    Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • The Qatari plane's transfer to the United States marked an unprecedented $400 million donation from a foreign country, with the aircraft later requiring extensive additional work to meet security and technical standards to become Air Force One.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • Mask ban for law enforcement officers, criminal records sealing and tenant protections are among a host of new measures taking effect.
    Liam Bowman, Washington Post, 30 June 2026
  • In the videos, women share their transformations in which their post-divorce selves are often fitter, with clearer skin and a new wardrobe.
    Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 30 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unknown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unknown. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on unknown

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster