Undecided: meaning, definitions and examples

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undecided

 

[ ˌʌndɪˈsaɪdɪd ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

state of mind

Not having made a decision or not being able to decide between two or more options.

Synonyms

hesitant, indecisive, uncertain, wavering.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
undecided

Use this word when someone has not yet made a final decision about something, often because they are considering multiple options.

  • She is still undecided about which college to attend.
  • The jury remains undecided on the verdict.
indecisive

Often used negatively, this word describes someone who struggles to make decisions, frequently wavering back and forth without coming to a conclusion.

  • He is so indecisive that it takes him hours to choose a meal from the menu.
  • Her indecisive nature makes it hard for the team to move forward.
uncertain

This word refers to a state of having doubts or lacking assurance about something, often because of insufficient information or clarity.

  • I feel uncertain about my future career path.
  • The weather forecast is uncertain for the weekend.
hesitant

This word is typically used when someone is pausing or reluctant to make a decision or take action, often because of doubt or fear.

  • He was hesitant to ask her out on a date.
  • She seemed hesitant before signing the contract.
wavering

Usually with a slightly negative tone, this word describes someone who is changing their mind or opinion back and forth or is not steady in their decisions.

  • His wavering support for the project made it difficult to proceed.
  • She stood wavering at the crossroads, unable to decide which path to take.

Examples of usage

  • I am still undecided about which university to attend.
  • She was feeling undecided about her future career path.
Context #2 | Adjective

result

Not having a clear result or outcome.

Synonyms

inconclusive, undetermined, unresolved.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
undecided

Use this word when someone has not yet made a decision or choice. It often refers to a person who is still thinking about their options.

  • She is still undecided about which college to attend.
  • The voters are undecided about the candidate they prefer.
undetermined

Use undetermined when something has not been decided or established yet, often referring to facts, measurements, or statuses that are still unknown.

  • The cause of the fire is still undetermined.
  • The final date for the event remains undetermined.
unresolved

This word is suitable for situations where a problem or conflict has not yet been settled or solved. It often implies that there is some tension or need for resolution.

  • The issue between the two departments remains unresolved.
  • There are still unresolved questions regarding the project.
inconclusive

This word is best used when results, discussions, or evidence do not lead to a definitive conclusion or outcome. It can refer to experiments, studies, or meetings that did not reach a final result.

  • The results of the experiment were inconclusive.
  • Despite hours of discussion, the meeting ended inconclusive.

Examples of usage

  • The game ended in an undecided score, leading to a tie.
  • The committee remained undecided on the issue after hours of discussion.

Translations

Translations of the word "undecided" in other languages:

🇵🇹 indeciso

🇮🇳 अनिर्णीत

🇩🇪 unentschieden

🇮🇩 ragu-ragu

🇺🇦 невизначений

🇵🇱 niezdecydowany

🇯🇵 未決定

🇫🇷 indécis

🇪🇸 indeciso

🇹🇷 kararsız

🇰🇷 결정되지 않음

🇸🇦 غير محدد

🇨🇿 nerozhodnutý

🇸🇰 nerozhodnutý

🇨🇳 未决定

🇸🇮 neodločen

🇮🇸 óákveðinn

🇰🇿 шешілмеген

🇬🇪 გადაუწყვეტელი

🇦🇿 qərarsız

🇲🇽 indeciso

Etymology

The word 'undecided' originated from the combination of the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'decided', which comes from the Latin word 'decidere' meaning 'to determine'. The term has been in use since the 15th century, evolving to its current meaning of being unable to make a decision or having an unclear outcome.

See also: decidability, decidable, decide, decided, decider, deciding, decision, decisive, decisively, decisiveness, indecisive.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,019, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.