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unfinished

adjective

un·​fin·​ished ˌən-ˈfi-nisht How to pronounce unfinished (audio)
Synonyms of unfinishednext
: not finished:
a
: not brought to an end or to the desired final state
an unfinished building/play/sentence
b
: being in a rough state : unpolished
unfinished wood
c
: subjected to no other processes (such as bleaching or dyeing) after coming from the loom

Examples of unfinished in a Sentence

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.
Dante’s Divine Comedy almost joined the ranks of the great unfinished poems in literary history. Eric Bulson, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026 Their second feature is based on an unfinished play by Federico García Lorca and revolves around the interconnected stories of three men across three different eras. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2026 Court records showed the defendants accepted installment payments from the victims for the unfinished projects and commingled victims’ funds instead of keeping project money separate. Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Jan. 2026 Simply tear the pages into strips, dip them into a simple flour-and-water paste, and layer them onto an unfinished box, tray, pot, or ornament form. Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 31 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unfinished

Word History

First Known Use

1539, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unfinished was in 1539

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unfinished.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfinished. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

unfinished

adjective
un·​fin·​ished ˌən-ˈfin-isht How to pronounce unfinished (audio)
: not finished
especially : not brought to the desired state
unfinished furniture

More from Merriam-Webster on unfinished

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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