MEANING
To retract or take back something already spoken, though its effects or memory may remain.
Use it for
Retract words already spoken, without undoing their effects.Show a character realizing that an apology cannot fully erase a spoken hurt.
Words that belong together
- unsay a remark
- unsay what was said
- words cannot be unsaid
On the page
He tried to unsay the accusation, but the room had already heard it.
Nearby words
Word forms
- Base
- unsay
- Past tense
- unsaid
- Past participle
- unsaid
- Present participle
- unsaying
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- unsay
- Present continuous
- am/is/are unsaying
- Present perfect
- have/has unsaid
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been unsaying
- Past
- unsaid
- Past continuous
- was/were unsaying
- Past perfect
- had unsaid
- Past perfect continuous
- had been unsaying
- Future
- will unsay
- Future continuous
- will be unsaying
- Future perfect
- will have unsaid
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been unsaying
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Often used in the past participle “unsaid”; it emphasizes that speech can be retracted but not erased from memory. Third-person singular: unsays.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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