unrequited

American

[uhn-ri-kwahy-tid] / ˌʌn rɪˈkwaɪ tɪd /

adjective

not returned or reciprocated.

unrequited love.
not avenged or retaliated.

an unrequited wrong.
not repaid or satisfied.

unrequited British

/ ˌʌnrɪˈkwaɪtɪd /

adjective

(of love, affection, etc) not reciprocated or returned

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of unrequited

First recorded in 1535–45; un- ¹ + requite + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This is something far more daffy and useless: The brouhaha over unrequited affections between Seattle Mariners at the World Baseball Classic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

It's used to heart-wrenching effect on their debut album, singing of the physical ache of unrequited love, over delicately strummed guitars and brushed drums.

From BBC • Sep. 10, 2025

Released on Thursday, the collaboration yearns for unrequited love.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 14, 2025

Some birds encapsulated different aspects of our humanity, so unrequited love with Alexa and Mikhail, or Jimmy who belongs in his own sitcom, or Cactus with her precarious journey.

From Salon • Jan. 9, 2025

For a long time we went everywhere together, but aside from that, my love was unrequited until Peter crossed my path.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023