Master confusing words with ease
Unbeknown vs. Unbeknownst
Unbeknown
/ˌʌnbɪˈnəʊn/Examples:
She went to the party unbeknown to her parents.There was a surprise waiting, unbeknown to the guests.Unbeknown to us, the plan was already in action.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Unbeknownst
Examples:
Unbeknownst to him, they planned a surprise party.She slipped away, unbeknownst to the bustling crowd.Unbeknownst to many, the artist lived in seclusion.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Unbeknown is a less common variant compared to unbeknownst.
- Both words mean the same thing but choosing one over the other often depends on regional preference with unbeknownst being more popular in American English.
- Think of unbeknownst as an evolved form of unbeknown in everyday speech.
- Unbeknownst has an extra st, which might make it feel more complete or formal in some contexts.
- Unbeknown without the st might feel slightly more archaic or less formal.
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