WordGarden.iounhappy
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /ʌnhˈæpi/
US
- /ənˈhæpi/
Meanings
Adjective
feeling sad, miserable, or not content
not pleased or satisfied with something
unfortunate, regrettable, or unsuitable
Beyond the definition
Being unhappy is not just feeling sad for a moment. It is a state of feeling bad, disappointed, or not pleased with your life or with a situation. Think of a little lost puppy separated from its mother - that puppy is likely unhappy. But the feeling can be quieter too. Maybe you are not satisfied with your job, or things did not go well with a friend. It is something everyone feels at times, and it often shows that something is wrong or needs to change. Sometimes people hide this feeling behind a smile, but real contentment is the opposite.
Unhappy describes a state of sadness, disappointment, or dissatisfaction. It is more than a brief bad moment. It often suggests an ongoing feeling that something is wrong, missing, or not as good as it should be. For example, "She was deeply unhappy with her living situation" suggests a lasting feeling, not just a short reaction.
This feeling can come from many sources - loss, loneliness, frustration, broken hopes, or a general sense that life is not going well. The word is often used for a person's overall emotional state, but it can also describe a reaction to one thing. If you say, "He was unhappy about the decision," it means he did not like it and felt bad about it.
The word is formed by adding the prefix "un-" meaning "not" to "happy." In the simplest sense, it means "not happy." But in real use, it can cover a range of feelings, from mild disappointment to deep sadness. The strength of the feeling depends on the situation and the context.
It is also useful to separate being unhappy from simply feeling sad. Sadness can be short and tied to one moment, while unhappy often points to a longer-lasting state or a broader problem. So whether you are talking about a general feeling in life or a specific thing that went wrong, "unhappy" fits when someone feels less than content, less than pleased, or emotionally low.
Examples
- 1
Family change
Maya was unhappy when her brother moved to another city.
- 2
Childhood
He had an unhappy childhood and rarely talked about it.
- 3
School life
She's been unhappy at school since the bullying started.
- Patternunhappy at school/home/work
not happy in that place or situation
- 4
Complaint
I'm unhappy with the way this problem was handled.
- Patternunhappy with + decision/action/result
not satisfied with it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Local rules
Many residents are unhappy about the new parking rules.
- Patternunhappy about + issue/change
upset or dissatisfied because of it
- 6
Workplace
The manager was unhappy that no one had warned him earlier.
- Patternunhappy that + clause
upset because something happened or is true
- 7
Careful wording
He said he was not unhappy with the final offer.
- Usage
"not unhappy" often means fairly satisfied, said in a careful way
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- feel unhappy
- unhappy about something
- unhappy with something
- deeply unhappy
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
3 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- unhappyadjective
Forms
- unhappiestsuperlativeadjective
- unhappiercomparativeadjective