unfinished
unfinished — adjective
1. An unfinished task, project, or creative work has been started but not brought t
An unfinished task, project, or creative work has been started but not brought to a state of completion — it still needs more work, effort, or time before it is done.
Ignacio left the report unfinished on his desk when the fire alarm went off.
leave + object + unfinished
The old stone church still has an unfinished bell tower that was never completed.
attributive: unfinished + noun
Ziad's novel remained unfinished for years after he switched careers.
Tanvi gazed at the half-eaten cake and the unfinished homework beside it.
- incomplete
more formal; suggests essential parts are missing rather than work stopping
- half-done
informal; used in everyday conversation about tasks
- undone
common for chores or obligations; implies nothing has been done at all in some uses
- pending
formal; suggests the task is waiting for a decision or further action
文法句型
unfinished + noun
be/lie/remain unfinished
leave + object + unfinished
常見錯誤
2. If a disagreement, argument, or emotional matter remains unfinished, the people
If a disagreement, argument, or emotional matter remains unfinished, the people involved have not yet found a way to settle it or reach an agreement about it.
After their divorce, Eli and Beatrix still had unfinished business over the family house.
fixed phrase: unfinished business
The committee left several unfinished items on the agenda for the next meeting.
Christopher knew he had unfinished business with his former business partner.
The fence dispute between the two neighbours remained unfinished even after years of talks.
- unresolved
more common in formal and legal contexts; suggests no conclusion has been reached
- unsettled
implies lingering discomfort or lack of finality; used for debts or emotional matters
- pending
suggests the matter is waiting for a decision or action
文法句型
unfinished business
unfinished matter
leave something unfinished
用法筆記
This sense appears most often in the fixed expression 'unfinished business,' which refers to an emotional or practical matter that still needs to be dealt with before closure is reached. It is less common in other noun phrases.
常見錯誤
3. An unfinished surface, especially of wood, stone, metal, or cloth, has not been
An unfinished surface, especially of wood, stone, metal, or cloth, has not been polished, painted, varnished, or otherwise treated, so it keeps its natural, coarse texture.
Beatrix chose an unfinished wooden shelf so she could paint it herself.
attributive: unfinished + material
Christopher ran his hand along the unfinished stone wall, feeling every rough edge.
The dining table was sold unfinished, with no varnish or stain applied.
Tanvi placed the unfinished clay pot on the shelf to dry before glazing.
- raw
suggests the material is in its natural, untreated state; broader than 'unfinished'
- unpolished
specifically about surfaces that have not been rubbed smooth; more common for metal or stone
- rough
focuses on the texture rather than the lack of treatment; can describe any coarse surface
文法句型
unfinished + material/object
be sold/finished/left unfinished
用法筆記
Commonly used for wood furniture, pottery, walls, or handmade objects whose original grain, texture, or natural colour is still visible. In home-improvement contexts, unfinished furniture is sold specifically for buyers who want to apply their own finish.