unbelievable
/ʌnˈbɪl.i.və.bəl/adjective★Intermediate— hard to believe or accept
informal
Extremely surprising or difficult to believe
The magician's trick was unbelievable.
The trick was so amazing that it seemed impossible.
She told an unbelievable story about her adventure.
Her story was so extraordinary that it was hard to believe.
💡
Often used to express strong surprise or disbelief.
Collocations
unbelievable luckextremely good fortuneunbelievable storyan extremely surprising or hard-to-believe taleunbelievable talentexceptional skill or ability
Antonyms
💡Pro Tip
Positive vs. Negative Use
Unbelievable can describe something amazing (positive) or something hard to accept (negative). Context determines the tone.
⚡Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
Using 'unbelievable' too often can make it lose its impact. Save it for truly extraordinary situations.
📖Word Origin
From 'un-' (not) + 'believable' (able to be believed), first recorded in the late 16th century.
📝Usage Notes
Often used to emphasize how surprising or extraordinary something is. Can be positive (amazing) or negative (hard to accept).
Word Breakdown
un-
not
prefixbelievable
able to be believed
rootEnglish Dictionary