unclearly
gb/ʌŋklˈɛɹli/ us/ʌŋklˈɛɹli/
B2
English
nem tisztán, érthetetlenül, nem egyértelműen, homályosan
B2
1
nem tisztán
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] speaks/says [something] unclearly; [something] comes through unclearly
He spoke so unclearly that I couldn’t catch his name.
Olyan érthetetlenül beszélt, hogy nem tudtam kivenni a nevét.
The announcement came through unclearly over the speakers.
A hangszórókon keresztül a bemondás nem tisztán hallatszott.
Without my glasses, I can only see unclearly in the distance.
Learner examples
Please speak more slowly and not so unclearly.
Kérlek, beszélj lassabban, és ne ilyen érthetetlenül.
I heard you unclearly because of the noise.
A zaj miatt nem tisztán hallottalak.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use the adjective ("unclear") where an adverb is needed ("speak unclearly," not "speak unclear").
Meaning
in a hard-to-perceive way
Collocations
speak unclearly
|pronounce unclearly
|say something unclearly
|sound unclearly
|come through unclearly
|hear something unclearly
|see something unclearly
|mumble unclearly
|talk unclearly
|be heard unclearly
Synonyms
indistinctly (Often suggests the words or sounds are hard to make out.)
|
incomprehensibly (Stronger; suggests it cannot be understood at all.)
Antonyms
clearly (Easy to see, hear, or understand.)
|
distinctly (Emphasizes sharp, separate, easily recognized sounds or details.)
Themes
communication
|perception
|speech
Definition
in a way that is hard to see or hear well
In a way that is not clear to see, hear, or understand; indistinctly.
B2
2
homályosan
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] is explained/defined/stated unclearly
The rules are written unclearly, so people interpret them differently.
A szabályok nem egyértelműen vannak megfogalmazva, ezért az emberek különbözően értelmezik őket.
She answered the question unclearly and had to clarify her point.
Homályosan válaszolt a kérdésre, ezért pontosítania kellett, mire gondol.
The contract describes the responsibilities unclearly.
Learner examples
The teacher explained it unclearly, so I asked again.
A tanár nem egyértelműen magyarázta el, ezért újra megkérdeztem.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with "uncertainly" (not sure), which is a different idea from "unclearly" (not clearly expressed).
Meaning
in an ambiguous or imprecise way
Collocations
explained unclearly
|defined unclearly
|stated unclearly
|described unclearly
|expressed unclearly
|written unclearly
|worded unclearly
|outlined unclearly
|set out unclearly
|phrased unclearly
Synonyms
ambiguously (Suggests more than one possible interpretation.)
|
vaguely (Suggests a lack of detail or precision.)
|
imprecisely (Emphasizes lack of exactness.)
Antonyms
precisely (Exact and careful in meaning.)
|
unambiguously (Leaves no room for multiple interpretations.)
Themes
writing
|communication
|education
Definition
in a way that is not exact or easy to understand
In a way that does not express meaning precisely or fully; ambiguously or vaguely.
Grammar
Dictionary form
unclearly
IPA
GB/ʌŋklˈɛɹli/
US/ʌŋklˈɛɹli/
Syllables & stress
un - clearly (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (clearly)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: unclearly
- Plural: unclearlies
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.