“Unread” simply means that something—like a message, email, or notification—has not been opened or looked at yet.
In everyday life, people say “I have 12 unread emails” or “That text is still unread” to quickly tell others they haven’t seen it. It shows up in bold on email apps, has a dot next to chats, or shows a number badge on your phone to remind you what you still need to check.
Meaning & Usage Examples
• “My inbox shows 5 unread messages.”
• “The little blue dot means the message is unread.”
• “Mark it unread so I remember to reply later.”
Context / Common Use
Apps like Gmail, WhatsApp, and iMessage use the word “unread” to highlight new items. In work chats, teammates often ask, “Is that doc still unread for you?” to check if someone has seen it.
Does “unread” mean the message was never delivered?
No. It only means it hasn’t been opened yet; delivery already happened.
Can I mark something as unread after I read it?
Yes. Most apps let you swipe or click “Mark as unread” so it appears fresh again.
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