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.
The feature – revolving around the interconnected stories of three gay men in 1932, 1937 and 2017 – took its cue from Alberto Conejero’s 2013 play La piedra oscura, which in turn was inspired by García Lorca’s unfinished play La Bola Negra. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026 Agents make the most sense when the task has an unfinished part. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026 In August, Beijing announced new restrictions on developers' ability to sell unfinished properties. — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026 Perhaps the confusion stems from the unfinished script the co-directors, Joe and Anthony Russo, shot the film with. — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 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

Phrases Containing unfinished

Rhymes for unfinished

See All Rhymes for unfinished

Browse Nearby Words

unfinishable
unfinished
unfinished business
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unfinished.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfinished. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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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

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