Standard Lemma guide

unsung

adj · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK, US: /ˌʌnˈsʌŋ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ʌŋ
  • CMU ARPABET: AH0 N S AH1 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Which has not been lauded or appreciated.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • The backstage crew of the movie were the unsung heroes.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: unhonored, unglorified, unreputed, fameless, gloriless, inglorious, nameless, nonfamous, obscure, renownless, unfamous, ungloriful, unglorious, unnoticed, unnoted, unrenowned, unsung

Antonyms: sung, bait, fabled, famed, famous, famoused, iconic, irrecondite, known, legendary, mere, notable, noted, noteworthy, proverbial, recognizable, renowned, storied, well-known

2

adj

Meaning 2

Not sung.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • The third hymn remained unsung.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: omitted

Antonyms: sung

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

having value that is not acknowledged

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: unappreciated, unvalued

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

not famous or acclaimed

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • an obscure family
  • unsung heroes of the war

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: obscure, unknown

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English sung English unsung From un- + sung.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: neopěvovaný — which has not been lauded or appreciated
  • Dutch: onbezongen — which has not been lauded or appreciated
  • Greek: παραγνωρισμένος (paragnorisménos) — which has not been lauded or appreciated
  • Italian: sconosciuto — which has not been lauded or appreciated
  • Italian: non riconosciuto — which has not been lauded or appreciated
  • Macedonian: неопеан (neopean) — which has not been lauded or appreciated
  • Russian: невоспетый (nevospetyj) — which has not been lauded or appreciated
  • Dutch: ongezongen — not sung
  • Greek: άψαλτος (ápsaltos) — not sung
  • Greek: ανεξύμνητος (anexýmnitos) — not sung
  • Greek: ατραγούδιστος (atragoúdistos) — not sung
  • Macedonian: неопеан (neopean) — not sung