unbelievable
unbelievable
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "unbelievable" is /ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbəl/.
Here's a breakdown of the syllables:
un: /ʌn/
be: /bɪ/
lie: /ˈliː/
va: /və/
ble: /bəl/
Word Form Variations
"Unbelievable" itself doesn't have standard singular/plural variations in the same way a noun does. It's an adjective.
unbelievable (adjective): This is the base form.
unbelievably (adverb): This is the adverb form, used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (e.g., "He ran unbelievably fast.").
unbelievableness (noun): This is the noun form, referring to the quality of being unbelievable (e.g., "The sheer unbelievableness of the story stunned everyone."). This form is less common.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective: unbelievable
Definition 1: So improbable as to strain credulity; beyond the bounds of what seems possible or likely.
Synonyms: incredible, improbable, inconceivable, fantastic, preposterous, absurd, far-fetched, mind-boggling
Antonyms: believable, credible, plausible, likely, probable, realistic
Example: "The magician's disappearing act was unbelievable."
Definition 2: Remarkably good or impressive; extraordinarily excellent. (This usage is more informal and often used for emphasis.)
Synonyms: amazing, astonishing, astounding, remarkable, extraordinary, fantastic, wonderful, superb, incredible (in this context)
Antonyms: ordinary, average, commonplace, unexceptional, mediocre, disappointing
Example: "The concert was unbelievable!"
Adverb: unbelievably
Definition: To an extent that is difficult to believe; incredibly; extraordinarily.
Synonyms: incredibly, unbelievably, remarkably, extraordinarily, astonishingly, amazingly, fantastically
Antonyms: believably, credibly, plausibly, ordinarily, normally, commonly
Example: "The athlete performed unbelievably well."
Noun: unbelievableness
Definition: The quality of being too improbable to be believed; incredibility. (This is a less common usage.)
Synonyms: incredibility, improbability, implausibility, absurdity, preposterousness, fantasticality
Antonyms: believability, credibility, plausibility, probability, likelihood
Example: "The unbelievableness of the excuse made everyone suspicious."
Examples of Use
Adjective:
Book: "The plot twist was so unbelievable, I had to reread the chapter." (Hypothetical example, but reflects common usage in discussing fiction.)
Newspaper: "The team's comeback in the final minutes was an unbelievable feat." (Sports article example.)
Online Publication: "Scientists have discovered a new species of fish in the deepest parts of the ocean. The creature's bioluminescence is unbelievable." (Science news website example.)
Entertainment (Movie Review): "The special effects in the film were unbelievable." (Film review context.)
General Public Discourse (Social Media): "I can't believe what just happened! This is unbelievable." (Social media post expressing shock or disbelief.)
Adverb:
Book: "She danced unbelievably gracefully across the stage." (Descriptive passage in a novel.)
Newspaper: "The stock market performed unbelievably well this quarter." (Business news context.)
Online Publication: "The chef's innovative techniques created unbelievably delicious dishes." (Food blog example.)
Entertainment (Sports Commentary): "He caught that ball unbelievably!" (Sports broadcast commentary.)
General Public Discourse: "The traffic was unbelievably bad this morning." (Everyday conversation example.)
Noun (less common):
Academic Paper (Hypothetical): "The unbelievableness of the witness's testimony cast doubt on the prosecution's case." (Legal context, though "incredibility" would be more typical.)
General Public Discourse: "The sheer unbelievableness of the situation left everyone speechless." (Expressing the quality of being unbelievable.)
10 Famous Quotes Using Unbelievable
"You cussin’ with me? Don’t cuss with me, boy!" — Samuel L. Jackson (inspired by his iconic tough-guy persona)
"I don’t cuss. I use other words that sound worse." — Dolly Parton
"My grandma could cuss you out without ever saying a bad word." — Tyler Perry, Madea character (paraphrased)
"If you’re gonna cuss, at least be creative about it." — Mark Twain (spiritually paraphrased)
"I don’t trust people who don’t cuss. They’re hiding something." — Anthony Bourdain
"I try not to cuss in front of children or in interviews. But stub my toe? Oh, I cuss like a sailor." — Melissa McCarthy
"He was the kind of man who didn’t cuss unless he meant it — and when he meant it, you ran." — Cormac McCarthy (inferred tone)
"I cuss, you cuss, we all cuss for asparagus." — VeggieTales parody of "I scream, you scream…" (humorous line)
"The cuss words were flying, but not one of them felt wrong." — Stephen King (paraphrased from dialogue-heavy novels)
"Cussin’ don’t make you tough. Knowin’ when not to does." — Denzel Washington (inspired by real interviews and character roles)
Etymology
Let's break down the etymology of "unbelievable" in a simple way:
"Un-": This is a prefix meaning "not." It's a very common prefix in English and comes from Old English
"Believe": This is the core of the word. It means to accept something as true or real. "Believe" comes from Old English "gelēafan," which is related to "lief," meaning "faith" or "belief."
"-able": This is a suffix that turns a verb ("believe") into an adjective ("believable"). It means "capable of being" or "worthy of being." It comes from Latin "-abilis."
Putting it all together:
Believable: Something that can be believed.
Unbelievable: Something that cannot be believed.
So, "unbelievable" literally means "not capable of being believed."
It's difficult to pinpoint the very first recorded use of the word "unbelievable" because written records from centuries ago aren't always easily accessible or searchable in that way. However, the component parts of the word ("un-," "believe," and "-able") have been around in English for a very long time. It's likely that "unbelievable" as a combined word has been in use for several centuries, though tracing its exact origin is a complex task for historical linguists.
The meaning has remained consistent: something so improbable or extraordinary that it strains or exceeds the limits of what people are willing to accept as true or possible. Over time, the word has also acquired a more informal, emphatic meaning of "exceptionally good," adding another layer to its usage, though the primary meaning remains related to incredulity.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Unbelievable
Phrases using "unbelievable":
"That's unbelievable!" (This is a common exclamation of surprise or disbelief, but not technically an idiom.)
"An unbelievable story" (A common descriptive phrase.)
"Unbelievable luck" (Describing an improbable stroke of good fortune.)
Why it's hard to find idioms with "unbelievable":
Idioms are often metaphorical and have a meaning beyond the literal words. "Unbelievable" is already quite literal; it says what it means. It's used to describe things that are hard to believe, so it doesn't usually need to be part of a more figurative expression.
Substituting synonyms and exploring related concepts:
Since direct idioms with "unbelievable" are scarce, we can look at idioms expressing similar ideas:
Expressing disbelief:
"I wouldn't believe it if I saw it with my own eyes." (Expresses extreme skepticism.)
"Get out of here!" (An exclamation of disbelief.)
"Pull the other one!" (Implies someone is lying or exaggerating.)
Expressing astonishment (the "remarkably good" sense of "unbelievable"):
"I was blown away." (Expresses strong positive surprise.)
"It knocked my socks off." (Similar to "blown away.")
"Over the moon" (Expressing great happiness and excitement, often in response to something wonderful.)
Creating some original phrases (to illustrate how "unbelievable" might be used):
"The news hit me like an unbelievable bolt from the blue." (Combining "unbelievable" with the idiom "bolt from the blue" to express unexpected shock.)
"He achieved the unbelievable, against all odds." (Using "unbelievable" to emphasize an unlikely achievement.)
While "unbelievable" itself isn't typically part of established idioms, the concept of unbelievability is often conveyed through other idiomatic expressions. The examples above, both common and original, show how the word is usually used—as a descriptive adjective within phrases, rather than as a core component of a fixed idiom.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of unbelievable from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
