Unsettled describes a situation or feeling that lacks stability, certainty, or calm. When something is unsettled, it hasn't reached a final state or resolution yet.

Weather forecasters might describe conditions as unsettled when they expect clouds, sun, rain, and wind to keep changing throughout the day. The atmosphere feels restless and unpredictable.

A person can feel unsettled too: that uneasy sensation when something doesn't feel quite right, even if you can't explain why. You might feel unsettled after watching a creepy movie, or when walking into a room where people had just been arguing. Your stomach might feel unsettled before a big performance or test.

Questions and disagreements can remain unsettled when people haven't reached an agreement yet. Two friends might have an unsettled argument, meaning they stopped talking about it but never actually resolved their differences. Scientists debate unsettled questions where the evidence points in multiple directions and no clear answer has emerged.

The opposite of unsettled is settled: calm, stable, decided, and at peace. When you finally figure out what was bothering you, or when an argument gets resolved, that unsettled feeling fades.