unbeknown

[ uhn-bi-nohn ]

adjective

1. unknown; unperceived; without one's knowledge (usually followed by to ).

unbeknown

/ ˌʌnbɪˈnəʊn /

adverb

1. sentence modifierfoll byto without the knowledge (of a person) Also (esp Brit)unbeknownst

   unbeknown to him she had left the country

adjective

1. rare.
   postpositiveusually foll byto not known (to)

Word History and Origins

Origin of unbeknown¹

1630–40; un- ¹ + beknown ( late Middle English beknowe, past participle of beknowen ); be-, known

Word History and Origins

Origin of unbeknown¹

C17: from the archaic beknown known; see be- , know

Example Sentences

But almost unbeknown to him, his inclusion within the England team had ramifications that travelled far beyond the pitch.

From BBC

It was not something they had discussed but, unbeknown to them, Macauley had signed the organ donor register, twice.

From BBC

Eruption takes readers on a thrilling journey through Hawaii's biggest island, which, unbeknown to its residents, hides dangerous military secrets dating back decades.

From BBC

His latest acquisition is a spider that, unbeknown to Kaleb, was smuggled from a Middle Eastern desert after rendering one of its captors agonizingly kaput.

From New York Times

Maybe then, even unbeknown to him, being at ground zero of an implosion helped shape a philosophy on leadership that Stokes is employing 10 years later.

From BBC