unbelievableun‧be‧liev‧a‧ble /ˌʌnbəˈliːvəbəl◂/ ●○○ adjective 
The opportunities are unbelievable. an unbelievable talent2very bad or shocking SYN terrible: The pain was unbelievable. acts of unbelievable cruelty It was unbelievable that we were expected to pay twice.3so extreme that it hardly seems possible: He’s so lazy it’s unbelievable. an unbelievable speed► see thesaurus at surprising4very difficult to believe and therefore probably untrue: Yvonne’s excuse for being late was totally unbelievable.—unbelievably adverb: an unbelievably bad movie
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- He has unbelievable talent.
- I find it unbelievable that Mr. Carey does not remember the meeting at all.
- I find it unbelievable that Mr. Carvey has no memory of that day.
- It's unbelievable how nasty people can be.
- The things he had heard about her were almost unbelievable.
- Even more unbelievable to Etherton was that there was no private photography gallery in this photography-rich city.
- It's just so unbelievable that she's so poorly.
- It creates an unbelievable pathos for Tithonus.
- It is unbelievable that a very complex form could just come into existence out of nothing.
- It was unbelievable, the demographics.
- Plastic and unbelievable though the characters may be, yet realistic and true to life are the human temptations and struggles involved.
- Sometimes I wonder now whether I dreamed some of it, so much was just unbelievable, so grotesque.
- The story of another girl isolated at school because she is from a foreign country is at first comforting, then unbelievable.
THESAURUS
making you feel surprised: · It’s surprising how quickly you get used to it.· We got some very surprising results.
very surprising. Astounding sounds a little more formal and a little stronger than astonishing: · The results of the tests were astounding.· Things are changing at an astonishing speed.
very unusual and surprising: · It is extraordinary that such a young boy should be so good at maths.
very surprising – used especially about good or impressive things: · an amazing achievement· It’s amazing what you can do when you really try.
very surprising, especially by being so large: · The project cost a staggering $8 million.
(also incredible) so surprising that you can hardly believe it: · It is unbelievable that she is only the same age as me.· The incredible thing is that he thinks he is ugly.
Longman Language Activatorwhen something seems very unlikely to be true difficult or impossible to believe: · The things he had heard about her were almost unbelievable.it is unbelievable how/that: · It's unbelievable how nasty people can be.· I find it unbelievable that Mr. Carey does not remember the meeting at all.
a story, explanation, or excuse that is unlikely cannot be believed because it is so unusual: · That sounds a pretty unlikely story to me!· Students invent all sorts of unlikely explanations as to why they can't do their homework.it is unlikely (that): · I think it's unlikely that the police had anything to do with it.highly unlikely: · It's highly unlikely that Burton will be the party's nominee.
a statement or event that is improbable is difficult to believe, even though it may in fact be true or may actually have happened: · The Rockets managed an improbable victory in last night's game.it is improbable that: · It's improbable that she would have been so successful without famous parents.highly improbable: · It's highly improbable that someone would win the lottery twice.
a statement or explanation that is implausible is difficult to believe because it is not like the way things usually happen: · Jill says she can earn $50,000 from the job, but this is an implausible figure.· The idea that a virus could wipe out an entire city so quickly seems a little implausible.
something that is incredible is so surprising or strange that it is difficult to believe, even though it is probably true: · This factory was capable of producing an incredible 100 cars per hour.it is incredible that: · It is incredible that the police still haven't caught him.
something that is inconceivable is so surprising or strange that it seems you cannot believe that it could possibly happen or be true: · The amount of time and money they have wasted on the project is inconceivable.it is inconceivable that: · It's inconceivable that university officials would fire someone as talented and loyal as Professor Schultz.
ideas, statements, and excuses that are unconvincing do not seem to be true or right and you cannot be persuaded to believe that they are: · Peter came to me with a rather unconvincing apology.· Their denial was unconvincing in view of the physical evidence linking them to the bombing.
an idea, story, or explanation that is far-fetched is difficult to believe because it sounds so surprising, unusual, or impossible: · The idea of travelling to other solar systems may sound far-fetched but scientists now see it as a real possibility.· His lawyers argue that the charges are based on a far-fetched conspiracy theory.
formal an idea, story, or explanation that is preposterous is impossible to believe because it sounds completely unreasonable: · It's a preposterous claim that the government is trying to poison its citizens.it is preposterous that: · It is preposterous that Bruce did not know that we were there.
an excuse or explanation that is lame is difficult to believe, because the person who says it has not tried hard enough to make it sound true: · She's always got some lame excuse for being late.· It sounded lame but I really had lost my ticket.
making you feel surprised · A surprising number of teenagers leave school without being able to read and write.· Some of the conclusions in the report were quite surprising.it is surprising (that) · Wasn't it surprising that so few people came to the party?it is surprising to see/find/ learn etc · In such a small town it was surprising to find so many really good restaurants.it is surprising how/what etc · Liddy really didn't want to change school, but it was surprising how quickly she got used to the new one.
very surprising - use this especially about something very good or impressive: · Hong Kong is an absolutely amazing city.· What an amazing achievement!it is amazing how/what: · It's amazing how much work you can do in a day if you put your mind to it.it is amazing that: · After 2000 years, it's amazing that the inscriptions are still clear enough to read.it's amazing to see/find/think etc: · Isn't it amazing to think that men have actually stood on the moon?
something that is astonishing or astounding is so surprising that it is difficult to believe: · If you watch the way a spider makes its web, it's really astonishing.· The submarine was moving through the water at an astonishing speed.· The results of the tests were astounding.· In the area around London, house prices rose by an astounding 200 per cent in three years.it is astonishing/astounding that: · It was astounding that, as a mother, Sally also managed to do two jobs.it is astonishing how/what: · It's astonishing how much things have changed since the arrival of computers.it is astonishing to find/think/realize etc: · Isn't it astonishing to think that people may one day live for hundreds of years?
extremely surprising and difficult to believe: · He's so rude. It's unbelievable!· Over the next two weeks, we saw an incredible change in her character.it is unbelievable/incredible that: · They were driving much too fast. It's incredible that no-one was hurt.it is unbelievable how/what: · I think it was really unbelievable how he went on deceiving her for all those years.it is unbelievable to see/think/realize etc: · It's unbelievable to think how slow things were in the days before e-mail.
something that is unexpected makes you feel surprised because you did not expect it to happen or be true: · Her decision to leave was completely unexpected.· The new drug comes from an unexpected source -- potatoes.· Ella's angry outburst was so unexpected that Mike really didn't know what to say.
a startling fact is one that you would never have expected to be true: · There has been a startling increase in the numbers of homeless people.· The programme documents startling new theories about the way the universe began.
a staggering number or amount is very surprising because it is so large: · Apparently, we spend a staggering £2.4 billion a year on food for our pets.· a staggering rise in crime· The results of the survey were staggering - over half the children said that they went to school without any breakfast.
informal something that is mind-boggling is so big, strange, or complicated that it is almost impossible to imagine or believe: · The amount of money that some countries spend on weapons is mind-boggling.· His salary is nothing compared to the mind-boggling figures earned by some sportsmen.it is mind-boggling to think/realize etc: · It's mind-boggling to think that our solar system is only one among billions.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY It was unbelievable that we were expected to pay twice.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
It was unbelievable that we were expected to pay twice.· There were, it is true, plenty of tigers to hunt, but the numbers killed are almost unbelievable.· Best of all, Happy Hour includes an almost unbelievable bar menu featuring specials for $ 1.95 and $ 4.95 per item.· It was shameful, almost unbelievable, but she still wanted him.· I do not dare print some of the letters I have received due to the almost unbelievable implications.· The consequences are almost unbelievable until one follows them out.· Now, thirty years later, it seemed almost unbelievable that the same Joseph Needham should still be alive.· This kind of love is so rare as to be almost unbelievable.· The company is diversifying, growing so fast it's almost unbelievable.
· Sometimes I wonder now whether I dreamed some of it, so much was just unbelievable, so grotesque.· Guys and Dolls' in Las Vegas, and to see the reaction to this program was just unbelievable.· Female speaker It's just unbelievable.· I read a transcript of this guy, a cop, describing his life, and it was just unbelievable.· That was just unbelievable and to win 6 & 5 in a fourball is a big margin.· When we picked them up there was so many, it was just unbelievable.
· The feeling he gave me winning the Dubai World Cup was quite unbelievable.· All these links have bridged quite unbelievable distances.· The way such people behave is quite unbelievable.
WORD FAMILYnounbeliefdisbeliefbelieveradjectivebelievable ≠ unbelievabledisbelievingverbbelieve ≠ disbelieveadverbunbelievably
1very good, successful, or impressive SYN amazing: The opportunities are unbelievable. an unbelievable talent2very bad or shocking SYN terrible: The pain was unbelievable. acts of unbelievable cruelty It was unbelievable that we were expected to pay twice.3so extreme that it hardly seems possible: He’s so lazy it’s unbelievable. an unbelievable speed► see thesaurus at surprising4very difficult to believe and therefore probably untrue: Yvonne’s excuse for being late was totally unbelievable.—unbelievably adverb: an unbelievably bad movie