First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1unless
conjunction un·less \ən-ˈles, ˈən-ˌ\
—used to say what will happen, be done, or be true if something else does not happen, is not done, or is not true
Full Definition of UNLESS
1
: except on the condition that : under any other circumstance than
2
: without the accompanying circumstance or condition that : but that : but
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Origin of UNLESS
Middle English unlesse, alteration of onlesse, from on + lesse less
Rhymes with UNLESS
abscess, access, address, aggress, assess, bench-press, caress, clothespress, coatdress, cold-press, compress, confess, cross-dress, CS, depress, de-stress, digress, distress, drill press, egress, excess, express, finesse, fluoresce, French press, full-dress, handpress, headdress, housedress, idlesse, impress, ingress, Meknes, much less, nightdress, noblesse, no less, obsess, oppress, outguess, possess, precess, prestress, princess, process, profess, progress, recess, redress, regress, re-press, repress, shirtdress, side-dress, SS, success, sundress, suppress, tendresse, top-dress, transgress, undress, web press, winepress, word stress
2unless
preposition
UNLESS Defined for Kids
unless
conjunction un·less \ən-ˈles\
Definition of UNLESS for Kids
: except on the condition that <You can't have dessert unless you finish your dinner.>
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