unharvested

unharvested

The farmer left the unharvested wheat standing in the field.

Definition
  1. Adjective:
    • Not gathered or reaped: "unharvested" describes crops, fruits, or other agricultural products that have not been collected or taken in from the field where they grew.
    • Not utilized or taken advantage of: By extension, "unharvested" can refer to resources, opportunities, or benefits that have not been gathered, exploited, or put to use.
Usage Examples
  • (The corn was not gathered or reaped.)
  • (The apples were not collected from the trees.)
  • (Her talent was not utilized or taken advantage of.)
Advanced Usage

  • "to lie unharvested": to remain in a state of having been not gathered.

    • The wheat lay unharvested after the storm destroyed the equipment. (The wheat was not collected and remained in the field.)

  • "unharvested potential": abilities, resources, or advantages that have not been developed or used.

    • The company has unharvested potential in its new technology, but lacks the funding to develop it. (The potential is present but not yet exploited.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Harvest (n/v): the process of gathering crops; to gather a crop.

    • The harvest was plentiful this year. (The gathering of crops was abundant.)
    • They will harvest the grapes in September. (They will gather the grapes.)

  • Harvested (adj): having been gathered or reaped.

    • The harvested fields looked bare and empty. (The fields had been gathered.)

  • Harvester (n): a person or machine that gathers crops.

    • The harvester moved slowly through the wheat field. (The machine gathered the wheat.)
Synonyms
  • Unreaped: not cut or gathered (especially of grain).
  • Ungathered: not collected or assembled.
  • Uncollected: not taken in or brought together.
Related Idioms

  • Leave something on the vine: to allow something (especially crops or opportunities) to remain unused or undeveloped until it is too late.

    • He left his best ideas on the vine, and now someone else has patented them. (He left his ideas unharvested and unused.)

  • Reap what you sow: to experience the consequences of your actions (often used in contrast to leaving things unharvested).

    • If you leave your efforts unharvested, you will not reap what you sow. (If you do not gather the results of your work, you will not benefit from it.)