Kilo Lingo

/ənˈles/

Line drawing of unless
Coloured illustration of unless
#728 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

Except if; used to say that one thing will happen if another thing does not.

Word origin

From on plus less, an older phrase meaning in a case less than or except.

Origin
Middle English
Root
on less

Examples

.

"Unless" means we will be late if we do not leave now.

.

Here "unless" means "except if you come".

rains, .

Here "unless" joins the two ideas: no rain, so the game starts.

Where this fits

Used in

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English · Free printables

unless: worksheet, infographic and listicle

Free printable study downloads for the English word "unless" (Except if; used to say that one thing will happen if another thing does not.): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.

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This word is part of lesson 15.