unprecedentedun‧pre‧ce‧dent‧ed /ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd/ ●○○ AWL adjective 
He took the unprecedented step of stating that the rumours were false. Crime has increased on an unprecedented scale.unprecedented in an event that is unprecedented in recent history► see thesaurus at unusual—unprecedentedly adverb
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- unprecedented success
- An unprecedented boom in tourism brought sudden prosperity to the town.
- An unprecedented number of cars entered the race.
- During the 1920's the number of Scots who made the journey across the Atlantic to the United States was unprecedented.
- The depression that started in mid-1929 was a catastrophe of unprecedented dimensions for the United States.
- The police took the unprecedented step of publishing the victim's photograph.
- There has been an unprecedented demand for second-hand furniture.
- As an earnest of their firm intentions they have been consolidating flights in December, which is unprecedented.
- How can an unprecedented association of nations which come together voluntarily govern itself effectively, responsibly and responsively?
- It receives an unprecedented 18 percent increase for this year.
- Not everyone celebrates the unprecedented alliance.
- The fact is that 1991 has been an unprecedented year of success for Belfast.
- The scale of the shock was in any case unprecedented, and most of the world was forced off the gold standard.
- The Zone covers 300 acres which, for the next twelve years, will offer unprecedented benefits for industrialists and investors.
- This is unprecedented, you understand, totally unprecedented.
THESAURUSevents/situations
different from what usually happens: · We had snow in May, which is very unusual.
not happening very often, or existing only in small numbers: · Violent crimes are rare.· Hatton gathered many rare plants from all over the world.
very unusual and happening very rarely: · Ninety-day visas can be extended only in exceptional circumstances.· The presence of a jury in a civil trial is now quite exceptional.
unusual and surprising or special: · It was a small village where nothing out of the ordinary ever seemed to happen.
extremely unusual and unexpected – used about an accident, storm etc: · A freak wave wrecked most of the seafront.· Their car was crushed by a tree in a freak accident.
if something is unprecedented, it has never happened before – often used about successes and achievements: · An unprecedented number of students have received top grades.· This kind of deal is unprecedented.
if something is unheard of, it has never happened or been done before – used especially when something seems very surprising to people at that time: · In our small town, this kind of crime was almost unheard of.· unheard-of luxuries such as electric windows and air-conditioning
Longman Language Activatorhappening, existing, done etc first before everyone or everything else: · Laurie's name was first on the list.· I still remember my first day of school.· She had her first baby in 1998.· I've only read the first chapter, but it seems like a really good book.· The first thing I ever had published was an article for the Boy Scout magazine.
before you do any other things, or before anything else happens: · I always read the sports page of the newspaper first.· Shall we go out now, or do you want to eat first?· I'll help you with your homework, but first let me finish the dishes.
at the beginning, before other events or actions - use this especially to say what you should do or what you did do first: · First of all, fry the onions.· First of all, let me welcome everyone to the meeting.· First of all I went to tell my wife and then my daughter and son-in-law what had happened.
use this about something that existed at the beginning, especially before a lot of things were changed: · The house still has its original stone floors.· Our original plan was to go camping, but it was pouring with rain.
use this to talk about what happened at the beginning of a process or activity or what someone felt at the beginning, especially when this changes later: initial response/reaction/feeling etc: · My initial reaction was one of complete disbelief.· After the initial shock, people adjusted to the new circumstances.initial difficulties/problems/setbacks etc: · Initial difficulties with the computer system were soon fixed.initial stage/trial/step etc: · I was only involved in the initial stages of the planning.· Classes in gun handling are recommended as the initial step for those who want to own a handgun.
happening or existing before all others: · "The Comedy of Errors" is one of Shakespeare's earliest plays.· The earliest form of transport was probably some kind of sledge.· Ginger was one of the earliest oriental spices known to Europeans.
use this to say that something happens that has never happened before: the first time (that): · The first time I went on a plane I was really nervous.· It was the first time that she had seen her mother cry.for the first time: · For the first time, representatives from the two countries will talk at a conference table.
something that is unprecedented has never happened before and is usually unexpected: · An unprecedented number of cars entered the race.· The police took the unprecedented step of publishing the victim's photograph.· The depression that started in mid-1929 was a catastrophe of unprecedented dimensions for the United States.
so unusual that nothing like it has ever happened before an unprecedented event or situation, especially a good one, has never happened before: · There has been an unprecedented demand for tickets.· An unprecedented boom in tourism brought prosperity to the town.· In the 1920's the number of Scots who made the journey across the Atlantic to the United States was unprecedented.
informal a situation or event that is unheard of is surprising or shocking because it has never happened before and is difficult to imagine: · Travel for pleasure was almost unheard of in the nineteenth century.an unheard-of luxury/achievement/outburst etc: · When my father was a child, a television was an unheard-of luxury.· The band had received six Grammy Awards -- an unheard-of achievement in such a short time.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY He took the unprecedented step of stating that the rumours were false. Crime has increased on an unprecedented scale.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
never having happened before, or never having happened so much: He took the unprecedented step of stating that the rumours were false. Crime has increased on an unprecedented scale. (=never having happened before)· Barcelona began the unprecedented move of shipping in drinking water.
(=a rate that is faster than ever before)· We are losing species at an unprecedented rate.
(=more than ever before)· Propaganda techniques were used on an unprecedented scale.
(=something that is not usually done/has never been done before)· Police last night took the unusual step of releasing photographs of him.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Throughout the session Li's report was subjected to almost unprecedented criticism from delegates.· But for the S & P 500 to beat so many managers is almost unprecedented.· Mayne's prowess as an officer of rare quality was recognized by the almost unprecedented award of four DSOs.· In an almost unprecedented move its findings were made public.
· The poll shows that Mr Livingstone's cross-party popularity is quite unprecedented.· Once that commitment became public, the non-government press mounted quite unprecedented pressure for reform in a whole range of different fields.· There were even some members who abstained from voting, a quite unprecedented phenomenon.· The truth is that the great economic boom provided employment - at home and for emigrants abroad-on a quite unprecedented scale.
NOUN· This created an unprecedented degree of unity across the sectarian divide.· It has given people, primarily women, an unprecedented degree of influence over their biology, and their lives.· This time, one of the two opponents capitulated, conceded defeat-to an unprecedented degree.· These systems provide users with an unprecedented degree of mobility and flexibility.· In early 1991 there was an unprecedented degree of diplomatic activity between the two countries.
· Armies of unheard-of size, fighting on a scale never before known, generated an unprecedented demand for military information.· The trend is likely to place unprecedented demands on the health care system, principally for nursing and custodial care.· So an unprecedented demand for information and, consequently, for information technology has developed.
· The decades following the Second World War saw an historically unprecedented growth in retirement at a fixed age for all social classes.· An unprecedented growth in small business.· In short, the unprecedented growth in world trade referred to earlier has been all but curtailed.
· Under the last Government, debt rose to unprecedented levels, which was essentially postponed taxation on future generations.· This uncertainty was reflected in unprecedented levels of argument within the government, conducted in the full glare of public attention.· Not surprisingly, doctors also discovered that respiratory diseases in such environments had reached unprecedented levels.· Mr. Needham I am pleased to report that in recent years commercial and retail development in Belfast have reached unprecedented levels.
· And, in an unprecedented move, Reddy has also offered Fry the chance to buy his shareholding in the club.· In an almost unprecedented move its findings were made public.· Fund management launched a $ 3.9-billion hostile takeover bid -- an unprecedented move in a generally cozy industry.
· The explosion of extreme sports in recent years has produced an unprecedented number of ultra-endurance races.· Bostonians who had shunned Channel 7 for years are now watching in unprecedented numbers.· Farmers are leaving the land in unprecedented numbers.· So they are quitting, along with breeders, in unprecedented numbers.· The war in turn stimulated an unprecedented number of new nationalisms.
· Farmers are leaving the land in unprecedented numbers.· Bostonians who had shunned Channel 7 for years are now watching in unprecedented numbers.· So they are quitting, along with breeders, in unprecedented numbers.
· Unemployed or still at school, often unaccustomed to budget discipline, young people now have unprecedented opportunities to outspend their means.· There are now unprecedented opportunities for creating a better world.· The building of oil terminals and platforms in the area, together with work offshore, provided unprecedented opportunities for employment.· The documents provide the public with an unprecedented opportunity.· But there is now an unprecedented opportunity to find discounts and to comparison-shop.
· In order to ingratiate himself with the populace, he rebuilt the Temple of Jerusalem on a hitherto unprecedented scale.· And I knew it was a diversity facing pressures of unprecedented scale.· Planning such experiences will involve library instructional coordination on an unprecedented scale.· Why has the Supreme Court set itself against the will of the majority on such an unprecedented scale?· Boldly going where no man has gone before has brought Brittain success on an unprecedented scale.· Yes, we are predators; we are consumers on an unprecedented scale in history.· The truth is that the great economic boom provided employment - at home and for emigrants abroad-on a quite unprecedented scale.
· At five past two Franco took the unprecedented step of refusing to serve him any more wine.· The authorities were taken aback, and took the unprecedented step of cordoning off the painting.· In the summer, the two sides took the unprecedented step in the Warsaw Pact of recalling their two ambassadors.
He took the unprecedented step of stating that the rumours were false. Crime has increased on an unprecedented scale.unprecedented in an event that is unprecedented in recent history► see thesaurus at unusual—unprecedentedly adverb- connexion
- conning tower
- conniption
- connivance
- connive
- conniving
- connoisseur
- connotation
- connotative
- connote
- connubial
- conquer
- conquering
- conqueror
- conquest
- conquistador
- Conrad, Joseph
- Conrail
- Conran, Sir Terence
- consanguinity
- conscience
- conscience-stricken
- conscientious
- conscientiously
- conscientiousness