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inconvenient

B1
adjective

Pronunciation

UK

  • /ɪnkənvˈiːnɪənt/

US

  • /ˌɪnkənˈvinjənt/

Description

Something inconvenient causes difficulty or annoyance. Imagine you're rushing to an important meeting and discover a flat tire on your car. That is inconvenient. It throws off your plans and forces you to deal with something unexpected and frustrating.

The word suggests a lack of ease or suitability. An inconvenient truth is one that is hard to accept, even if it is true. A small inconvenience might be forgetting your umbrella on a rainy day; a bigger one could be a canceled flight ruining your vacation. It does not necessarily mean something terrible happens, just something that makes life harder than it needs to be.

Examples

  1. 1

    Scheduling

    Friday afternoon is a little inconvenient for me.

  2. 2

    Apology

    I'm sorry to call at such an inconvenient time.

  3. 3

    Rescheduling

    If Tuesday is inconvenient for you, we can meet next week instead.

    • Pattern

      inconvenient for + person

      difficult or awkward for that person

  4. 4

    Transportation

    It's inconvenient to get around here without a car.

    • Pattern

      it is inconvenient to + verb

      doing it causes practical difficulty

  5. 5

    Process change

    The new check-in process is inconvenient, but it only takes a few extra minutes.

Forms and spellings

1 form open this card.

Main spelling

  • inconvenientadjective