unbeknownst meaning

UK US /ənbiˈnoʊnst/ 3 syllables

unbeknownst (adjective): (usually used with `to') occurring or existing without the knowledge of.

unbeknownst has 2 meanings in this dictionary, as adjective and adverb.

unbeknownst as an adjective

  1. (usually used with `to') occurring or existing without the knowledge of
    • a crisis unbeknown to me
    • she had been ill for months, unbeknownst to the family

    Synonyms: unbeknown

    Similar: unknown

unbeknownst as an adverb

  1. without someone's knowledge
    • unbeknownst to me, she made all the arrangements

    Synonyms: unbeknown

How to pronounce unbeknownst

unbeknownst is pronounced /ənbiˈnoʊnst/ in American English. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the third syllable.

Word lists: words starting with UN · words ending in ST · 11-letter words

More about unbeknownst on Wikipedia.