Undone
/ʌnˈdʌn/
Definitions
3 meaningsNot fastened, unfastened, or opened.
/ʌnˈdʌn/
Not fastened or opened.
He left his coat undone.
💡 Simply: Imagine you have a button on your shirt that's not buttoned up, or a shoelace that's untied. That's undone! It's like something that should be closed or fastened is open or loose.
👶 For kids: Like when your zipper is down or your shoelaces are not tied.
More Examples
The knot was easily undone.
She wore her hair undone.
How It's Used
"Her shoelaces were undone."
"The ribbon on the package remained undone."
Not completed or finished; reversed or annulled (especially of a result or plan).
/ʌnˈdʌn/
Not completed or finished.
The project was left undone due to lack of funding.
💡 Simply: Imagine you start building a tower of blocks, but you don't finish it. Or maybe you tried to fix something, and it's back to how it was before. That unfinished task is undone! It means it wasn't completed or fixed.
👶 For kids: Like if your homework isn't finished.
More Examples
The gains made were quickly undone by the economic downturn.
All of the preparations were undone.
How It's Used
"The deal was undone by last-minute disagreements."
"The work was left undone."
The past participle of 'undo'.
/ʌnˈdʌn/
Past participle of undo.
The damage was quickly undone by the repair crew.
💡 Simply: If you undo something, you're reversing it, like taking apart a puzzle or fixing a mistake. So if something *was* undone, it means it *has been* reversed.
👶 For kids: Like when you take something apart after it's been put together or fix a boo-boo.
More Examples
The harm of the lie was undone when the truth was revealed.
He felt his efforts to fix the car were undone.
How It's Used
"The magic was undone."
"The mistake was undone."
Synonyms & Antonyms
From Middle English *undon*, equivalent to un- + done. 'Un-' indicates reversal and 'done' indicates a completed action, so undone refers to reversing a completed action.
The word 'undone' has been used since the 14th century, initially in the sense of 'unfastened'. Its use broadened to include the sense of 'not completed' later.
Memory tip
Think of a knot that's not tied - it's undone!
Word Origin
"un- (reversal) + do (to perform an action or task)"