unbroken
un-BROH-kun
/ʌnˈbrəʊkən/
Not interrupted or disturbed; continuous.
Often used for records, sleep, or lines of sight where any gap would ruin the quality.
The story behind the word. From Old English 'un-' (not) and 'brocen' (broken). It originally referred to physical wholeness but evolved to describe time and sequences.
Word relationships
- continuous: Continuous is more technical; unbroken often carries a sense of achievement or purity.
- intermittent: Intermittent describes something that stops and starts, the opposite of unbroken.
Commonly confused with
- intact: Intact means not damaged; unbroken means not interrupted.
Word family
- unbrokenly (adverb): In a manner that is not interrupted.
Collocations
- unbroken sleep
- unbroken record
- unbroken silence
Example sentences
- "The team has an unbroken string of victories dating back to last season." Describing a long period of success.
Memory hook
Think of a chain. If no links are missing, the chain is unbroken. No gaps in the chain.
When not to use
Avoid using it for physical objects that are simply not smashed; 'intact' is usually better there.
Fun facts
- The term 'unbroken' is famously the title of Laura Hillenbrand's biography of Louis Zamperini, referring to his spirit.
Explore more words
uninterrupted, continuously, continuous, continuity, untouched, successive
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