unless

CEFRA1

/ənˈlɛs/

conjunction

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    conjunction

    Except if something happens or is true.

  2. 02

    conjunction

    Extra detail

    Except if; used with hypothetical conditionals.

Examples

  • Don't stay in bed, unless you can make money in bed.

  • People are often quite skeptical about things unless given believable proof.

At a glance

Sits at A1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
1
Citations
4

Deep Dive

conjunction

Extra meanings

  1. If not; used with counterfactual conditionals.

  2. Except on a specified condition; if not.

More examples

In context

  • You won't get paid for time off unless you have a doctor's note.

  • I’m leaving unless I get a pay rise.

  • Unless part of the staff, you are not allowed beyond this point.

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

You cannot enter the building blank you show a valid ID to the guard.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

conjunction

From Middle English unlesse, earlier on lesse (modern on + less), from (not) on lesse (than) (“(not) on a less compelling condition (than)”). The quality of negation in the word and the lack of stress changed on to un-.