undecided

undecided — adjective

1. Still thinking about different possibilities and not yet able to choose one of t

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

Still thinking about different possibilities and not yet able to choose one of them, usually because each option has both good and bad points — for example, a student who has not picked a university, or a voter who has not chosen a candidate.

Example

Tanvi is still undecided about which university to attend next year.

undecided about + wh-clause (which)

The committee members remain undecided on the budget proposal after hours of debate.

undecided on + noun phrase

Common collocations
  • still undecided
  • remain undecided
  • undecided voter
  • undecided about
  • undecided on
  • undecided whether
Synonyms
  • unsure

    Broader — can refer to doubts about facts or opinions, not just choices. 'Unsure' is also slightly less formal.

  • hesitant

    Emphasises reluctance or fear of making the wrong move, not just a lack of decision.

  • torn

    Informal. Suggests strong internal conflict between two equally attractive options.

  • ambivalent

    More formal. Describes having mixed or contradictory feelings, not just an unresolved choice.

Antonyms
  • decided

    Having made a clear choice.

  • certain

    Free from doubt; knowing exactly what to do.

  • resolute

    Firmly determined; not easily swayed.

Grammar Patterns

undecided about [noun/gerund]

undecided whether [to-infinitive or clause]

undecided on [noun phrase]

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 describes a person's state of mind, while sense 2 describes a matter or outcome. Frequently used with 'still' or 'remain' to emphasise the ongoing hesitation.

Common Mistakes

I am undecided to join the club.
I am undecided about joining the club.
'undecided' takes 'about' + gerund, not a to-infinitive.
The weather is undecided tomorrow.
The weather forecast for tomorrow is uncertain.
'undecided' applies to choices people make, not to natural conditions.

2. Not having been given a final answer or result yet — for example, the outcome of

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

Not having been given a final answer or result yet — for example, the outcome of an election, a court case, a competition, or any situation where the final result is not known because it depends on something that has not happened or been decided.

Example

The winner of the contest remains undecided until the final votes are counted.

remains undecided — ongoing unresolved state

Noa's application status is still undecided, so she checks her email every morning.

Common collocations
  • remains undecided
  • still undecided
  • undecided outcome
  • undecided result
  • undecided question
Synonyms
  • unresolved

    More formal; often used for serious or complex matters like disputes or investigations.

  • unsettled

    Suggests discomfort or concern about the lack of resolution.

  • pending

    Formal. Implies that a decision or result is expected soon.

  • uncertain

    Broader — can describe a lack of knowledge about anything, not just outcomes awaiting a decision.

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

[noun] remains undecided

[noun] is still undecided

Usage Note

Subject is always a thing, event, or outcome — never a person. Common in news and formal contexts when reporting on ongoing processes (elections, legal cases, negotiations). Unlike 'pending', which implies a decision is awaited, 'undecided' simply states the absence of a result.

Common Mistakes

The judge is undecided on the case.' (when meaning the outcome is unresolved)
The outcome of the case is undecided.
For sense 2, use 'undecided' about the matter itself, not the person deciding it.
The meeting time is undecided.
The meeting time has not been decided yet.
'undecided' works, but 'not decided' sounds more natural for simple scheduling.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a lack of certainty, but they differ in nuance. 'Unsure' is the broadest — you can be unsure about facts ('I'm unsure whether it will rain'), while 'undecided' specifically involves a choice between options. 'Hesitant' carries a feeling of reluctance or fear ('He was hesitant to speak up'), not just an unresolved choice. 'Torn' is more dramatic and informal, suggesting a painful internal conflict between two equally appealing options ('She was torn between medicine and music'). 'Ambivalent' is the most formal and intellectual — it describes having simultaneous positive and negative feelings ('He felt ambivalent about the promotion, excited but also anxious'). In a sentence: 'She was undecided about which dress to buy' simply states no decision yet; 'She was torn between the red and the blue dress' adds emotional weight.

unsure ↗hesitanttorn ↗ambivalent

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • remain undecided
  • leave something undecided

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishLatinFrenchEnglish

Formed in English by adding the prefix 'un-' (meaning 'not', from Old English) to 'decided', which came from French 'décider' ('to decide'), tracing back to Latin 'decīdere' — literally 'to cut off', from 'de' (off) + 'caedere' (to cut). The idea was that deciding 'cuts off' other possibilities. First recorded in English around the 1530s.