unbelievable

unbelievable — adjective

1. causing great surprise because it goes beyond what you thought was possible or n

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

causing great surprise because it goes beyond what you thought was possible or normal

Example

Tamar found it unbelievable that she had won first prize in the national science contest.

find + it + unbelievable + that-clause

Ignacio stared at the test results, finding them completely unbelievable.

find + object + completely unbelievable

Common collocations
  • it is unbelievable that
  • find something unbelievable
  • unbelievable news
  • unbelievable scene
Synonyms
  • incredible

    very close in meaning and often interchangeable, though 'incredible' can also mean 'extremely good'

  • astonishing

    slightly more formal, focusing on the feeling of wonder rather than doubt

  • mind-blowing

    informal and much stronger, used for things that amaze or overwhelm

Antonyms
  • believable

    direct opposite; describes something that can be accepted as true

  • unsurprising

    opposite in meaning; describes something expected rather than shocking

Grammar Patterns

it is unbelievable that + clause

find + noun + unbelievable

Usage Note

Often used with 'it is' followed by a that-clause to express shock at an unexpected event. Distinguish from sense 2, where the focus is on improbability rather than emotional surprise.

Common Mistakes

His story was unbelievable that nobody believed him.
His story was so unbelievable that nobody believed him.
use 'so unbelievable that…' not 'unbelievable that…' to link a result clause.

2. describing something that seems too unlikely to be accepted as true

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

describing something that seems too unlikely to be accepted as true

Example

Lakshmi said the excuse was unbelievable because no one could miss a flight three times.

be + unbelievable (describing an excuse)

Erik told an unbelievable story about finding gold in his grandmother's old garden shed.

unbelievable + story

Common collocations
  • unbelievable excuse
  • unbelievable claim
  • completely unbelievable
  • sound unbelievable
Synonyms
  • implausible

    more formal, focuses on lack of likelihood when judged by reason

  • far-fetched

    informal, often describes stories or explanations that are hard to accept

  • improbable

    the most direct synonym, neutral in register

Antonyms
  • likely

    opposite in meaning; describes something probable

  • plausible

    describes something that seems reasonable and believable

Grammar Patterns

be + unbelievable

sound + unbelievable

seem + unbelievable

Usage Note

Commonly describes stories, excuses, or claims that are too unlikely to be accepted. Differs from sense 1 in that the focus is on the lack of likelihood rather than the emotional shock of surprise.

Common Mistakes

The exam was unbelievable hard.
The exam was unbelievably hard.
when modifying an adjective, use the adverb form 'unbelievably,' not the adjective 'unbelievable.'

3. placed before a noun to give strong emphasis to how good, bad, impressive, or su

3.adjectiveB1
Definition

placed before a noun to give strong emphasis to how good, bad, impressive, or surprising something is — for example, calling a meal 'unbelievable' means it was extremely good

Example

Jabari ordered a meal that came with an unbelievable amount of fresh seafood.

unbelievable + amount of + noun

Zayd paid an unbelievable price for a tiny one-bedroom flat near the city center.

unbelievable + price

Common collocations
  • unbelievable talent
  • unbelievable view
  • unbelievable speed
  • unbelievable amount of
Synonyms
  • extraordinary

    similar intensifier but more formal in tone

  • remarkable

    positive connotation, slightly less strong than 'unbelievable'

  • phenomenal

    informal and very strong, often used for impressive achievements

Antonyms
  • ordinary

    opposite; describes something average or unremarkable

  • unremarkable

    describes something that does not stand out in any way

Grammar Patterns

unbelievable + noun

Usage Note

Appears before a noun to mean 'extremely good, bad, or impressive' — for example, 'unbelievable luck' means 'extraordinary luck.' Unlike senses 1 and 2, this sense does not express doubt or disbelief; it simply adds force to the description.

Common Mistakes

She has an unbelievably talent.
She has an unbelievable talent.
use the adjective form before a noun, not the adverb form.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Unbelievable, incredible, astonishing, and mind-blowing can all describe something that shocks you because it is so surprising. Unbelievable and incredible are the closest in meaning and are often interchangeable — both suggest that something is so extreme it challenges your ability to believe it. Astonishing has a slightly more formal tone and focuses on the feeling of wonder rather than on doubt. Mind-blowing is informal and much stronger, used for things that completely overwhelm your senses or understanding. For example: 'The magician's final trick was unbelievable — the whole audience gasped.' 'The view from the mountain peak was simply astonishing.' 'The special effects in the film were absolutely mind-blowing.'

incredible ↗astonishing ↗mind-blowing

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • absolutely unbelievable
  • totally unbelievable
  • quite unbelievable
  • simply unbelievable
  • completely unbelievable

Prepositions

  • unbelievable to

Etymology

Old EnglishLatinFrenchEnglish

Formed by adding the prefix 'un-' (meaning 'not') to 'believable', which was created in English from the verb 'believe' (from Old English 'gelēfan', meaning to have faith or trust in) and the suffix '-able' (borrowed from French, ultimately from Latin '-abilis', meaning 'capable of'). The word was first recorded in English in the mid-1500s.