unheard

adjective

un·​heard ˌən-ˈhərd How to pronounce unheard (audio)
1
a
: not perceived by the ear
Their cries for help were unheard.
b
: not given attention
The students' concerns went unheard [=were ignored] by the administration.
2
archaic : unheard-of

Examples of unheard in a Sentence

Their cries for help were unheard.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Rock criticism was unheard of back when writers like Christgau, Greil Marcus and Lester Bangs first started out, forming their own niche within a greater movement that came to be known as New Journalism. Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 20 Mar. 2026 And every once in a while, the calls for services exposed students who felt unheard, destabilized by family deaths and broken homes, and isolated by their peers and teachers. Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 19 Mar. 2026 People going 20 miles per hour on Broadway is unheard of. Sooji Nam, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026 Ken Pulskamp, executive director of the California City Management Foundation, said although the move is relatively unusual, a police chief stepping in to fill the role of city manager isn’t unheard of. Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unheard

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of unheard was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Unheard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unheard. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

unheard

adjective
un·​heard ˌən-ˈhərd How to pronounce unheard (audio)
1
: not heard by the ear
2
: not given a hearing

More from Merriam-Webster on unheard

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