inconvenient
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪnkənvˈiːnɪənt/
US
- /ˌɪnkənˈvinjənt/
Description
- causing trouble
- hard to manage
- badly timed
- not easy to use
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.
"Inconvenient" describes something that causes difficulty, annoyance, or trouble, often because it disrupts plans or requires extra effort. It is more than simply unpleasant; it suggests a lack of ease or suitability for the situation. For example: "The train delay was highly inconvenient because I had an important appointment."
Think about a time when something unexpected threw off your schedule. Maybe you were baking a cake and realized you were out of sugar, or perhaps a power outage happened right in the middle of an important work deadline. These are all examples of inconveniences, things that make life more difficult and force you to adjust.
The word is most often used for situations, times, places, or things rather than for people. You can talk about an inconvenient time to call, an inconvenient location, inconvenient rules, or an inconvenient delay. In each case, the idea is the same: it is not easy, suitable, or helpful for what you need.
However, it is important to note that "inconvenient" does not necessarily mean something catastrophic. It often refers to minor annoyances or disruptions. A slightly longer commute, a misplaced item, or a temporary shortage of supplies can all be called inconveniences.
So, whether you are dealing with a flat tire, a delayed train, or a forgotten ingredient, remember that "inconvenient" describes anything that makes life a little harder and gets in the way of your plans, even if the problem is small.
Examples
- 1
Scheduling
Friday afternoon is a little inconvenient for me.
- 2
Apology
I'm sorry to call at such an inconvenient time.
- 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
Transportation
It's inconvenient to get around here without a car.
Pattern
it is inconvenient to + verb
doing it causes practical difficulty
- 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