unbeknownst Definition
without the knowledge of someone.
Using unbeknownst: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "unbeknownst" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Unbeknownst to me, my friends had planned a surprise party for my birthday.
Example
The company was sold unbeknownst to its employees.
Example
Unbeknownst to her parents, she had dropped out of college.
Example
He had been stealing from the store for months, unbeknownst to his boss.
unbeknownst Synonyms and Antonyms
Antonyms for unbeknownst
- aware
- knowledgeable
- conscious
- informed
Phrases with unbeknownst
without someone's knowledge
Example
Unbeknownst to the teacher, the students had planned a prank.
without one's own knowledge or awareness
Example
Unbeknownst to herself, she had been talking in her sleep.
without anyone's knowledge or awareness
Example
Unbeknownst to all, the building was about to collapse.
Origins of unbeknownst
from 'be' + 'known' + '-st', with 'st' being an archaic suffix indicating past tense
Summary: unbeknownst in Brief
'Unbeknownst' [ˌʌnbɪˈnoʊnst] is an adjective that means 'without the knowledge of someone.' It is often used to describe situations where something happens without someone's awareness, as in 'Unbeknownst to me, my friends had planned a surprise party for my birthday.' Other phrases include 'unbeknownst to oneself,' and 'unbeknownst to all.'
