- not known or identified
- A previously unknown group claimed responsibility for the bombing.
- He was trying, for some unknown reason, to count the stars.
- The man's identity remains unknown.
- An unknown number of civilians were killed or injured in the attack.
- patients suffering from fevers of unknown origin
- unknown to somebody/something a species of insect hitherto unknown to science
Extra Examples- His whereabouts were quite unknown during this period.
- She departed for parts unknown (= nobody knew where she was going).
- These sites remain largely unknown to the British public.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- remain
- completely
- entirely
- quite
- …
- to
- for parts unknown
- to parts unknown
- for reasons unknown
- …
- (of people) not famous or well known
- She was then still relatively unknown.
- The author is virtually unknown outside Poland.
- a film with a largely unknown cast
- an unknown actor
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- remain
- completely
- entirely
- quite
- …
- to
- for parts unknown
- to parts unknown
- for reasons unknown
- …
- never happening or existing
- unknown in… The disease is as yet unknown in Europe (= there have been no cases there).
- it is unknown for somebody/something to do something It was not unknown for people to have to wait several hours (= it happened sometimes).
- It is virtually unknown for foxes to attack anyone.
- a period of democratic development unknown in their country until now
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- remain
- completely
- entirely
- quite
- …
- to
- for parts unknown
- to parts unknown
- for reasons unknown
- …
Idioms
See unknown in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee unknown in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishan unknown quantity
- a person or thing whose qualities or abilities are not yet known
unknown to somebody
- without the person mentioned being aware of it
- Unknown to me, he had already signed the agreement.
Check pronunciation:
unknown