unfinished work

noun

1. Tasks, projects, or jobs that have been started but not yet completed.

   B1

   usually uncountable

   • "I have a lot of unfinished work to do before Friday."A2
   • "She can't relax while there is unfinished work on her desk."B1
   • "The report included a list of unfinished work from the previous team."B2
   • "The new manager spent her first month clearing up the unfinished work left by her predecessor."B2

2. Something creative or academic — a book, painting, piece of music, or study — that was left incomplete, often because the maker died or abandoned it.

   B2

   uncountable; can be countable in the plural (unfinished works)formal

   • "The museum is showing a collection of his unfinished work."B1
   • "Her final novel remained unfinished work for over thirty years."B2
   • "Scholars still argue about whether the symphony was meant as finished or as deliberately unfinished work."C1

3. In business and accounting, goods that are partly made but not yet ready to sell (also called work in progress).

   C1

   uncountabletechnical

   • "The factory keeps track of unfinished work at the end of each month."B2
   • "Unfinished work is recorded as inventory rather than as a finished product."C1