unhurt

unhurt — adjective

1. not physically injured, especially after being in a situation where you could ha

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

not physically injured, especially after being in a situation where you could have been hurt or harmed.

Example

The driver was unhurt after the car hit a tree beside the road.

predicative adjective after linking verb 'was'

Obi escaped from the fire unhurt, while the roof collapsed behind him.

resultative adjective after 'escaped'

Common collocations
  • escape unhurt
  • walk away unhurt
  • emerge unhurt
  • come through unhurt
  • completely unhurt
  • physically unhurt
Synonyms
  • uninjured

    more formal and commonly used in official reports or medical contexts

  • unscathed

    stronger emphasis on surviving a serious or dramatic incident without harm

  • safe

    broader meaning that includes emotional, financial, or general well-being

Antonyms
  • hurt

    the direct opposite; suffering physical pain or injury

  • injured

    more formal and often implies a specific wound or damage to the body

Grammar Patterns

unhurt after noun (predicative)

verb + unhurt (resultative)

Usage Note

Used mostly after a linking verb (is unhurt, were unhurt) or after a verb describing how someone left a dangerous situation (escaped unhurt, walked away unhurt). It is less common before a noun (*an unhurt passenger sounds unnatural in most contexts).

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three words describe the absence of harm, but they differ in scope and nuance. Unhurt is the most direct and neutral term — it simply means no physical harm was done. Uninjured is slightly more formal and often appears in official contexts, such as police or medical reports ("the passenger was uninjured in the collision"). Unscathed has a dramatic tone, suggesting that someone came through a genuinely dangerous event without a scratch ("the pilot survived the crash unscathed"). Safe is the broadest term, covering physical, emotional, and financial well-being, and it does not carry the sense of having passed through a risky situation. For everyday conversation, unhurt is the most natural choice.

uninjuredunscathedsafe ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • escape unhurt
  • walk away unhurt
  • come through unhurt

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed in English by joining the prefix un- (meaning 'not') to the adjective hurt, which comes from the Old French verb hurter ('to strike' or 'to knock'). The sense of 'not harmed' developed naturally from the combination, and the word has been used in English since the 14th century.