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unbearably

A2
Uncommon

Pronunciation

UK

  • /ʌnbˈeərəbli/

US

  • /ənˈbɛrəbli/

Meanings

Adverb

  1. to an unbearable or intolerable degree

Beyond the definition

If something is unbearably hot, cold, sad, boring, or frustrating, it is so strong or severe that you can hardly stand it. Imagine a summer day when the heat is not just high, but so strong that you need to get into the shade right away.

The word shows that something has gone past your comfort limit. It is often used for unpleasant physical feelings, emotions, or situations. A room can be unbearably hot, waiting can feel unbearably slow, and a loss can feel unbearably sad. It is usually used for negative things, though it can sometimes describe feelings that are simply too intense to bear.

Examples

  1. 1

    Physical discomfort

    By midday, the classroom was unbearably hot.

  2. 2

    Exam time

    The last few minutes of the exam felt unbearably long.

  3. 3

    Social awkwardness

    After he forgot her name, dinner became unbearably awkward.

  4. 4

    Emotional emptiness

    For weeks after the breakup, the apartment felt unbearably empty.

More examples
  1. 5

    Repetition

    His jokes were funny at first, but after an hour they became unbearably repetitive.

See also

Similar

Shades of meaning

Contrast

  • bearably
  • tolerably

Used with (collocations)

  • unbearably hot
  • unbearably painful
  • unbearably sad
  • unbearably slow

Word family

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Forms and spellings

1 form open this card.

Main spelling

  • unbearablyadverb