unless
/ʌnˈlɛs/
if not
📚 Meanings
- 1.
(If not) Used to introduce the only circumstance in which something will not happen or be true.
"You won't succeed unless you try harder."
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💬 Examples
You can't get into the building unless you have an ID card.
You can't enter the building if you don't have an ID card.
I'll be home by 6 PM, unless my meeting runs late.
I will be home by 6 PM, if my meeting does not run late.
Don't open the package unless it's an emergency.
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unless - translations in 14 languages
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Frequently asked about unless
How do you pronounce unless?
unless is pronounced [/ʌnˈlɛs/]. You can hear a native pronunciation on Smoveth.
What does unless mean?
unless means "if not". See the meanings and examples higher up on the page for the full picture.
How difficult is unless?
unless is a Intermediate-level word.
Can you give an example sentence with unless?
Example: "You can't get into the building unless you have an ID card." — used to mean "if not".
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