unsuccessfully

unsuccessfully — adverb

1. Describes an action or effort where the hoped-for result is not achieved and the

1.adverbC1
Definition

Describes an action or effort where the hoped-for result is not achieved and the attempt ends without success

Example

Bao applied for three jobs unsuccessfully before finally getting an interview.

apply unsuccessfully for [something]

The young athlete tried unsuccessfully to beat her own record at the national competition.

try unsuccessfully to [verb]

Common collocations
  • try unsuccessfully to
  • apply unsuccessfully for
  • search unsuccessfully for
  • attempt unsuccessfully to
  • unsuccessfully attempted
Synonyms
  • vainly

    More literary and emotional; often implies the effort was pointless from the start

  • fruitlessly

    Emphasises that the effort produced no result despite genuine hard work

  • futilely

    Stronger tone, suggesting the attempt had no real chance of succeeding

Antonyms
  • successfully

    The direct opposite; describes an attempt that achieved its aim

Grammar Patterns

modifies verb of attempt

Usage Note

Commonly appears before or after the main verb it modifies, typically paired with verbs of effort or pursuit such as try, attempt, apply, search, or seek.

Common Mistakes

I tried unsuccessfully to call you but I got through on the first ring.
I tried unsuccessfully to call you
the line was busy all morning.' — 'unsuccessfully' describes an attempt that failed, so the surrounding context must match that outcome.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four adverbs describe an attempt that does not succeed, but they differ in tone and emphasis. 'Unsuccessfully' is the most neutral and widely used — it states the outcome without judging the effort itself. 'Vainly' carries a literary or even dramatic tone, often suggesting that the attempt was doomed or empty (e.g., 'She vainly tried to change his mind'). 'Fruitlessly' focuses on the effort being thorough but wasted, like hard labour that yields nothing ('The team searched fruitlessly for survivors'). 'Futilely' is the strongest — it implies the attempt never had a real chance because the situation made success impossible ('He futilely argued against the court's final decision'). Choose 'unsuccessfully' for general reporting, and the others when you want to add emotional colour or philosophical judgment about the attempt.

vainlyfruitlesslyfutilely

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • try unsuccessfully to [verb]
  • apply unsuccessfully for [noun]
  • search unsuccessfully for [noun]
  • attempt unsuccessfully to [verb]

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed from the prefix un- (meaning 'not') added to 'successfully', which itself comes from 'successful' + '-ly'. The root 'success' traces back through Latin successus ('a good result, an outcome') to succedere ('to come after, to go near to'). The modern sense of 'achieving a desired aim' developed in English during the 16th century.