adjective
Not finished or dealt with.
Several tasks were left undone.
The work remained undone after lunch.
Common phrases & grammar
work left undone · tasks left undone
leave + something + undone
something + remains + undone
American English
How to pronounce undone
adjective · verbB1
uhnDUHN
/ənˈdən/
2 syllables · Stress the second syllable.
Not finished or dealt with.
Practice out loudMeanings & examples
adjective
Not tied, fastened, or closed.
Your shoelaces are undone.
She wore her jacket undone.
Common phrases & grammar
undone shoelaces · undone buttons · an undone zipper
something + is/was + undone
verb
To reverse an action or change so that its effect is removed.
I have undone the last change.
The decision was undone by the court.
Common phrases & grammar
be easily undone · changes were undone · mistakes can be undone
someone + has + undone + something
something + was + undone
adjectiveformalless common
So badly affected by a shock, loss, or difficulty that you cannot cope normally.
She was undone by the sudden loss.
The scandal left him completely undone.
Good to know
In this meaning, undone is strong: it means deeply upset or overwhelmed, not simply tired.
Common phrases & grammar
undone by grief · undone by the news · emotionally undone
someone + is + undone + by + something
something + left + someone + undone
Useful expressions
To fail to finish or deal with something.
She left several tasks undone.
To become unfastened or fall apart.
One of the buttons came undone.
To be deeply upset or defeated by something.
He was undone by the loss.
Related words & forms
The verb is irregular: the past form is undid, and the past participle is undone.