unhappy

unhappy
un‧hap‧py S3 /ʌnˈhæpi/ adjective (comparative unhappier, superlative unhappiest)1. not happy ⇨ sad:
    If you’re so unhappy, why don’t you change jobs?
    Leslie had an unhappy childhood.
    an unhappy marriage
    I was desperately unhappy.
  REGISTER
    In everyday English, people often say they feel down or fed up rather than unhappy:
   ▪ The situation at home was making her feel very down.
2. feeling worried or annoyed because you do not like what is happening in a particular situation
    unhappy about/at (doing) something
    Dennis is unhappy about having to work on a Saturday.
    unhappy with
    We were all unhappy with the quality of the service.
3. formal an unhappy remark, situation etc is not suitable, lucky, or desirable
   SYN  unfortunate:
    an unhappy coincidence
—unhappiness noun [uncountable]
     

COLLOCATIONS

(for Meanings 1 & 2)

■ verbs
   ▪ feel unhappy After a while I didn’t feel quite so unhappy.
   ▪ look unhappy Both his parents looked very unhappy.
   ▪ seem unhappy Did Bill seem unhappy to you?
■ adverbs
   ▪ very/deeply unhappy The Government was deeply unhappy about criticism from the press.
   ▪ desperately/terribly/dreadfully unhappy It was the first time she had been away from home and she was desperately unhappy.
■ nouns
   ▪ an unhappy childhood Stevens had a unhappy childhood in Manchester.
   ▪ an unhappy marriage Her parents had had an unhappy marriage.
   ▪ unhappy memories Ruth tried to put these unhappy memories from her mind.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ sad not happy: She felt sad as she waved goodbye. | a sad and lonely figure | a sad face | a sad film
   ▪ unhappy sad, especially for a long time – used about people and periods of time: I was unhappy at school. | an unhappy childhood | He’s obviously a deeply unhappy person.
   ▪ homesick [not before noun] sad because you are away from your home, family, and friends: She sometimes felt homesick when she first arrived in Japan.
   ▪ down [not before noun] informal feeling sad for a few hours or days, often for no reason: Whenever I’m feeling down, I go out and buy myself some new clothes. | She’s been kind of down since that argument with Jack.
   ▪ gloomy looking or sounding sad and without hope – used about people, places, and weather: Why are you all looking so gloomy? | the gloomy immigration office | a gloomy afternoon in February
   ▪ dejected/downcast looking sad and disappointed because something you hoped for did not happen: ‘I didn’t pass,’ he said, looking dejected. | a downcast expression | He was understandably downcast after the team’s loss.
   ▪ mournful especially literary looking or sounding sad: the dog’s big mournful eyes | the mournful sound of the church bell | a mournful expression
   ▪ glum looking sad and disappointed: Don’t look so glum! Maybe you’ll win next time. | They sat in glum silence.
   ▪ wistful especially literary looking a little sad and thoughtful, because you wish that the situation was different: She looked at him with a wistful smile.