Unhappy
/ʌnˈhæpi/
Definitions
2 meaningsFeeling or showing sadness or discontent.
/ʌnˈhæpi/
Feeling or showing unhappiness; sad.
The child was unhappy because he lost his toy.
💡 Simply: Unhappy is like when you're feeling a little bit sad or not pleased with something. Like, if your ice cream falls on the ground, you might feel unhappy.
👶 For kids: Feeling sad or not happy.
More Examples
She felt unhappy about the weather.
How It's Used
"She was unhappy with the results of the exam."
"He felt unhappy after their argument."
Unfortunate; causing or experiencing misfortune.
/ʌnˈhæpi/
Unfortunate; causing or marked by misfortune.
The project had an unhappy outcome.
💡 Simply: Unhappy can also mean that something is unlucky or brings bad luck. Like, if you have an unhappy day, it means bad things kept happening.
👶 For kids: When something is unlucky or causes bad things to happen.
More Examples
The unhappy accident left him injured.
How It's Used
"An unhappy fate befell the hero of the story."
"He met with an unhappy accident."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
Unhappy camper
Someone who is dissatisfied or discontented, often in a humorous way.
"When the movie ended early, she was an unhappy camper."
From Middle English *unhappy*, from Old English *unhæppig* ('unfortunate, unlucky'), from *un-* ('not') + *hæppig* ('happy').
The word "unhappy" has been used in a similar sense since the early 17th century.
Memory tip
Think of a day when everything goes wrong; that's the feeling of being unhappy.
Word Origin
"not happy"