DictionaryAI

unhappy

un-HAP-ee/ʌnˈhæpi/

Noun pluralunhappies

6 meanings of unhappy

Practice

  1. 1
    adjective
    Feeling sad or without any joy.

    Like a rainy gray day when nothing feels fun.

    She felt unhappy after losing the game.

    The unhappy child cried all afternoon.

    Similarsad, depressed, down, dejected, downcast

    Oppositehappy, glad, joyful, joyous

    Note
  2. 2
    adjective
    Not pleased with something because it is not good enough.

    Like getting a small snack when you ordered a full meal.

    Customers were unhappy with the slow service.

    She felt unhappy about the final price.

    Similardissatisfied

    Oppositehappy, satisfied, pleased, content

  3. 3
    adjectivedated
    Having bad luck, or bringing bad luck.

    Like always picking the checkout line that moves slowest.

    By unhappy chance, they arrived just as the gates were closing.

    The pointed shaft of the cart had entered the breast of the unhappy Prince like a sword, and from the wound his life's blood was spouting in a stream, and falling with a hiss into the road.
    1891, Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'UrbervillesHere, unhappy means unlucky, struck by bad fortune.

    Similarunlucky, unfortunate, hapless, luckless, inauspicious

    Oppositelucky, fortunate, happy

    Note
  4. 4
    nouncountable
    A person who is sad and not enjoying life.

    Like the one kid at a party who doesn't want to join the games.

    The party was full of laughter, with not a single unhappy among the guests.

    She seemed the only unhappy in a room of cheerful people.

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 5
    adjectivedated
    Not right for the situation, or badly chosen.

    Like wearing heavy snow boots to the beach.

    His joke was an unhappy choice for such a serious meeting.

    The people, if they are not strangely bent Against our welfare, never will consent To this unhappy match, foreboding ill: What's it to us, if th' adverse nation will?
    1563, John Foxe, Actes and Monuments of These Latter and Perillous DayesHere, unhappy means badly chosen or not fitting.

    Similarunsuitable, inappropriate, unfit, improper, inept

    Oppositeappropriate, suitable, happy, apt

    Note
  2. 6
    verbobsolete
    To make someone sad, or to become sad.
    A happy gentleman in blood and lineaments, By you unhappied and disfigured clean
    1595, William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”Here, unhappied means made unhappy, brought to misfortune.
    Most unhappying! I had to get up, have a nice hot bath and then go out into the cold rain to Ted's for breakfast.
    2011, Jeanne Comings Majdalany, “In Foreign Lands — A Teacher and A Learner”Here, unhappying means making someone unhappy.

    Similarsadden, depress, grieve, upset, dispirit

    Note

Practice

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Origin

From Middle English unhappy. It is made from un- meaning 'not' plus happy.