unspoken

adjective

un·​spo·​ken ˌən-ˈspō-kən How to pronounce unspoken (audio)
: not spoken : expressed or understood without being directly stated
an unspoken agreement/assumption
an unspoken rule
Phrases
unspoken to
: not spoken to
… she had sat the whole evening through in the same chair without occupation, not speaking, and unspoken to.Anthony Trollope

Examples of unspoken in a Sentence

an unspoken promise to remain faithful to one another
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.
That’s the unspoken assumption that the president will oppose any plan to build a garbage-burning facility in Doral, which consultants say is the cheapest place to build a replacement for an incinerator that used to burn nearly half of the county’s trash every day. Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025 But there’s no trace of dashing bravado or heroics in Elordi’s performance, which is grounded, mature and subtle in its communication of unspoken feeling. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025 The rules may change, but our unspoken desires don’t always shift in accordance. Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 14 Feb. 2025 Given that explicit instruction, Mr. Bove’s demands for someone in the department to sign the document carry an unspoken threat, these officials said — do it or leave. Glenn Thrush, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unspoken

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unspoken was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Unspoken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unspoken. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on unspoken

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