Langimage
English

undesirably

|un/de/sir/a/bly|

C1

🇺🇸

/ˌʌn.dɪˈzaɪr.ə.bli/

🇬🇧

/ˌʌn.dɪˈzaɪə.rə.bli/

(undesirable)

not wanted

Base FormNoun
undesirableundesirability
Etymology
Etymology Information

'undesirably' originates from the word 'undesirable,' which is derived from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the root 'desirable' meaning 'worthy of desire.'

Historical Evolution

'undesirable' evolved from the Old French word 'desir,' which meant 'desire,' and the prefix 'un-' was added in English to form 'undesirable.'

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'not worthy of desire,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Adverb 1

in a manner that is not wanted or is unpleasant.

The project was undesirably delayed due to unforeseen circumstances.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/02/01 03:36