Unknown meaning in English
Learn how to use Unknown correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
unknown: unfamiliar, unidentified; strange, mysterious
It is unknown how old Marcel is but we think he is between 90 and 110.
Pronunciation examples
UK: I hate being an unknown actor - I want to be famous like Marilyn Monroe!
US: The reasons for her tragic suicide are still unknown.
Examples
- "Betty was my guide to a sensual world previously unknown to me..."
- "This is the moment you've waited your whole life for: a voyage to the great unknown, a trek to the stars!"
- "Next of kin: unknown."
- "-Issue product vouchers to customers who have already purchased Eiffel Shower Gel (if necessary, cost unknown)"
- "Betty was my guide to a sensual world previously unknown to me."
- "-Offer significant discount on future shipments to all retail partners as an act of good faith for recalled product (cost unknown but likely over $500,000)"
- "Date of birth: unknown."
- "Nationality: unknown."
Exercise 1
Which of the following is the best definition for the phrase, "as yet unspecified"?
Which of the following is the best definition for the phrase, "as yet unspecified"?
Although the phrase "as yet unspecified" implies that the meeting will be held in the future, the phrase itself doesn't express this idea of the future. The phrase expresses that the new date of the meeting isn't known yet.
Although the phrase "as yet unspecified" implies that the meeting will be held in the future, the phrase itself doesn't express when the meeting will be held, just that the date hasn't been fixed yet. The phrase expresses that the new date of the meeting isn't known yet.
"As yet unspecified" means "still unknown" or "not yet specified" or "not yet fixed or determined". When Polly writes that the meeting has been moved to a date "as yet unspecified", she means that the new date of the meeting hasn't been determined yet.
Although the phrase "as yet unspecified" implies that the meeting will be held in the future, the phrase itself doesn't express when the meeting will be held, just that the date hasn't been fixed yet. The phrase expresses that the new date of the meeting isn't known yet.
Exercise 2
In the phrase "a world-renowned, multi-national cosmetics company", a synonym for the word renowned is:
In the phrase "a world-renowned, multi-national cosmetics company", a synonym for the word renowned is:
"Infamous" means "having a bad reputation", for example: Idi Amin, the infamous dictator of Uganda was feared by many. This term is usually used to describe villains or criminals, but it does not describe what happened to Xavier's perfume shop.
"Unknown" is actually the opposite of "renowned", for example: There are still parts of the world which are unknown and haven't been explored. The text indicates that Bruno transformed Xavier's shop into one which was "known" or "celebrated" all over the world.
"Renowned" means "famous" or "well-known". Bruno transformed Xavier's perfume shop into a company which was "known" or "celebrated" all over the world. "Famous" shares a similar meaning with the term "renowned".
A "renamed" company is a company which has been named again. This is not what "renowned" expresses in the text. For example: We renamed our daughter "Moonbeam" because she didn't like her original name.
Exercise 3
Complete the sentences below with synonyms of the terms in bold.
"Eventually, Bruno transformed Xavier's humble perfume shop..." → , Bruno transformed Xavier's humble perfume shop...
"a world-renowned, multinational cosmetics company" → a world-, multinational cosmetics company
"Eventually, Bruno transformed Xavier's humble perfume shop..." → , Bruno transformed Xavier's humble perfume shop...
"a world-renowned, multinational cosmetics company" → a world-, multinational cosmetics company
Complete the sentences below with synonyms of the terms in bold.
"Eventually, Bruno transformed Xavier's humble perfume shop..." → Over time 1, Bruno transformed Xavier's humble perfume shop...
"a world-renowned, multinational cosmetics company" → a world-famous 2, multinational cosmetics company
"Eventually, Bruno transformed Xavier's humble perfume shop..." → Over time 1, Bruno transformed Xavier's humble perfume shop...
"a world-renowned, multinational cosmetics company" → a world-famous 2, multinational cosmetics company
1 Over time: "Eventually" means "at the end of a period of time" or "after a relatively long period of time". For example: Eventually, I will earn enough money to buy a house. In this text, "eventually" indicates that it took time for Bruno to transform Xavier's perfume shop into a large corporation, or that it didn't happen immediately.
1 Suddenly: "Suddenly" means "abruptly" or "without warning". For example: While I was walking in the park, it suddenly started raining.
1 Possibly: "Possibly" indicates possibility or chance. Often it is synonymous with "maybe", for example: That is possibly the biggest elephant in the world.
1 Fortunately: "Fortunately" is synonymous with the term "lucky". For example: Fortunately, I had my umbrella when it started raining. Using "fortunately" here would express that Bruno was "lucky", or had the good fortune to transform Xavier's perfume shop. This is not what the term "eventually" indicates.
2 famous: "Renowned" means "famous" or "well-known". Bruno transformed Xavier's perfume shop into a company which was "known" or "celebrated" all over the world.
2 renamed: A "renamed" company is a company which has been named again. This is not what "renowned" expresses in the text. For example: We renamed our daughter "Moonbeam" because she didn't like her original name.
2 unknown: "Unknown" is actually the opposite of "renowned", for example: There are still parts of the world which are unknown and haven't been explored. The text indicates that Bruno transformed Xavier's shop into one which was "known" or "celebrated" all over the world.
2 infamous: "Infamous" means "having a bad reputation", for example: Idi Amin, the infamous dictator of Uganda, was feared by many. This term is usually used to describe villains or criminals, but it does not describe what happened to Xavier's perfume shop.
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