WordGarden.iounfed
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ʌnfˈɛd/
US
- /ʌnfˈɛd/
Meanings
Adjective
not given food; left hungry
Beyond the definition
Imagine a tiny bird fallen from its nest. It is unfed, meaning it has not been given the food it needs. This word usually describes a person or animal that has gone without food, often because no one cared for it properly. It can also describe babies or young animals waiting to be fed. The word has a sad tone and often suggests need, weakness, or neglect.
The word unfed describes someone or something that has not been given food. In the most direct sense, it is used for people or animals that have gone without eating, especially when they depend on someone else for care. A baby crying in its crib, a stray dog roaming for scraps, or farm animals left without feed could all be described as unfed. The word points to a clear physical need: food has not been provided.
Sometimes the word is also used in a wider or more literary way. A person may speak of an "unfed mind" or an "unfed heart" to suggest a lack of learning, love, or care. Even then, the idea still comes from the basic image of going without food. These uses are less common than the literal one, but they can appear in stories, poems, or dramatic writing.
The word often carries a feeling of sadness and neglect. It suggests that food should have been given but was not. Because of that, unfed does more than state a fact. It often hints at suffering, weakness, or poor care. Whether used literally or in a more figurative way, it gives the sense that an important need has been left unmet.
Examples
- 1
Neglected animal
The dog was left unfed all day.
- 2
Wartime hardship
During the siege, some families feared they would go unfed for days.
- Phrasego unfed
have nothing to eat
- 3
Charity goal
The charity's goal is simple: no child should be left unfed.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- unfedadjective