Definition

Adjective 1. Not finished or brought to an end; lacking completion. This describes something that has been started but not finished, or a process that has not reached its intended conclusion. 2. Not caught or not caught within bounds (in sports, particularly American football). This specific meaning refers to a forward pass that is not successfully caught by an intended receiver, making the play unsuccessful.

Usage and Examples

• General Meaning (Not Finished):

  • The construction project remains uncompleted due to funding issues.
  • She left behind an uncompleted novel when she passed away.

• Sports Meaning (Not Caught):

  • The quarterback's throw resulted in an uncompleted pass.
  • The drive ended after three consecutive uncompleted passes.

Advanced Usage

• "uncompleted" vs. "incomplete": While often used interchangeably to mean "not finished," "incomplete" is more common in general contexts. "Uncompleted" can sometimes emphasize the of not being finished, especially for tasks or projects that were actively being worked on. In the context of American football, "incomplete pass" is the standard term, not "uncompleted pass."
• In Formal or Technical Contexts: The term can be used in project management, legal documents, or academic work to formally denote work that has not been finalized.
  • The contract was terminated due to uncompleted deliverables.

Variants and Related Words

• Incomplete (adj): The more common synonym meaning not finished or lacking parts.
• Unfinished (adj): Very similar to "uncompleted," often used for creative works or physical objects.
• Pending (adj): Awaiting completion or conclusion, often used for official matters.
• Completion (n): The act of finishing something.
• Complete (v/adj): To finish something; or, having all necessary parts.

Synonyms

• Unfinished
• Incomplete
• Ongoing (if still in progress)
• Undone

Antonyms

• Completed
• Finished
• Accomplished
• Finalized

Notes on Usage

• The sports definition is highly specialized and primarily used in American football commentary or statistics. In most other contexts, the word carries the general meaning of "not finished."
• It is typically used as an attributive adjective (placed before the noun it modifies), e.g., , .

Adjective

1. not caught or not caught within bounds
   • an uncompleted pass
2. not yet finished
   • his thesis is still incomplete
   • an uncompleted play