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unheralded

B2
adjective

Pronunciation

UK

  • /ʌnhˈɛrəldɪd/

US

  • /ənˈhɛrəldɪd/

Description

An unheralded arrival is not greeted with trumpets and cheering crowds; it happens quietly, often without much notice. Imagine a small wildflower blooming in the shade or a talented musician playing to an empty room. These things exist; they are beautiful or skillful, but they have not yet received the attention they deserve.

The word comes from "herald," someone who announces important news, like a town crier. To be unheralded is to come without that kind of announcement or public excitement. A team that wins a championship after most people ignored it may be called unheralded. An unheralded hero is someone who does something brave or important without getting much praise. In general, the word suggests that something important or impressive exists without much public attention.

Examples

  1. 1

    Sports

    An unheralded young striker scored twice in the final.

  2. 2

    Publishing

    The novel became an unheralded hit after readers started recommending it online.

  3. 3

    Behind-the-scenes work

    Much of the restaurant's success comes from the unheralded work of the kitchen staff.

  4. 4

    Policy change

    In an unheralded policy shift, the company quietly dropped the extra fee.

    • Meaning

      an unheralded policy shift

      a change that was not announced or widely noticed

  5. 5

    Personal quality

    Her most unheralded quality is how calm she stays in a crisis.

Forms and spellings

1 form open this card.

Main spelling

  • unheraldedadjective