Looking for Christmas words that start with U? This collection includes festive terms, winter vocabulary, food words, and everyday words you can use in Christmas sentences. Each entry has a meaning and an example to help with cards, stories, classroom tasks, or word games.
Here’s a list of Christmas words that start with the letter U, including their meanings:
Choosing Words for Your Activity
For a quick starting set, try Unwrap, Unwrapping, Unwrapped, Unbox, Ugly sweater, Uplifting, Unity. For a strict Christmas-only challenge, choose names, objects, or traditions directly connected with the holiday. For creative writing, the broader descriptive and food words can help you tell a richer seasonal story.
The example sentences illustrate possible uses; they do not mean that every family follows the same custom. Names, slang, phrases, and inflected forms may be treated differently in a game, so agree on the rules first.
Uglify
To make something ugly or worsen the attractiveness of an item.
Example: My sister did not have an ugly sweater to wear to our Christmas party, so she took it upon herself to uglify one of her older sweaters.
Ugly Sweater
A deliberately bold or humorous festive sweater.
Example: Mom always likes to plan a fun, themed Christmas party and is hosting an ugly sweater party this year.
Ukulele
A small stringed instrument that can accompany songs.
Example: My brother loved music and enjoyed learning how to play different instruments, so he was so excited to receive a ukulele from Santa Claus.
Ulcer
An open sore that is typically found on an internal surface of the body caused by a break in the tissue or when the mucus membrane fails to heal.
Example: Dad was so worried about the incoming storm and having family traveling on the highways to come to visit for Christmas that mom thought he would give himself an ulcer.
Ultimate
Being or occurring at the end of a process or sequence or the best possible accomplishment.
Example: Cooking Christmas dinner for more than 20 people was my mom and Grandma’s ultimate holiday accomplishment.
Ultrahot
Something extremely hot or scorching.
Example: The old Christmas lights on our tree were ultrahot; we thought it was time to buy new ones before they set our tree on fire.
Ultrasoft
Incredibly soft or extraordinarily soft.
Example: The blanket my grandparents gave me for Christmas was ultrasoft. I haven’t ever felt anything as soft and cuddly as it.
Umpire
An official who watches over a game or acts as an arbitrator to enforce the rules and maintain order during gameplay.
Example: When it comes time to open the Christmas gifts, the older siblings are in charge of playing umpire as the smaller kids fight to get to their presents first.
Unable
Not having the skill, means, or opportunity to do something.
Example: It was snowing in Chicago, and my uncle could not fly out to see us in Florida for Christmas this year.
Unanimously
Without opposition or to do something where everyone agrees.
Example: We had a family meeting after Thanksgiving, and we unanimously voted for us to spend Christmas in Southern California this year instead of staying home in the cold.
Unapproachable
Someone or an institution that is not welcoming or friendly.
Example: The Santa at the mall this year was very unapproachable, so we decided to go to a mall in a nearby town to visit a friendlier Santa Claus.
Unarmed
Not having or being equipped with a weapon.
Example: This year, we received Nerf guns from Santa, and I was able to hide my brother’s gun, leaving him unarmed when my sister and I started the Nerf gunfight.
Unbelievable
Something that is not likely to be true or not believed by others.
Example: It was snowing so much that it was unbelievable that anyone in our family could make it to our home for Christmas dinner.
Unbox
To take something out of its box.
Example: Before wrapping our presents, mom and dad had to unbox our gifts from the shipping packages to ensure they received the right items.
Uncomfortable
Feeling slight pain or physical discomfort.
Example: After falling while ice skating, it was very uncomfortable for me to sit on the floor. I had to sit on the couch with a heating pad all day on Christmas.
Unconditional compassion
The act of being sympathetic to the suffering of others.
Example: Lana has always had unconditional compassion for others in our community, one of the main reasons she volunteers at local food banks during the Christmas season.
Uncle
The brother of a parent or the husband of an aunt, among other family uses.
Example: Every year, I look forward to my uncle coming over for Christmas because he always has fantastic adventures and stories to share with us.
Uncoil
To straighten something from a curled position.
Example: I started to help dad uncoil the lights to prepare them to hang up, but the idea of baking Christmas cookies sounded more fun.
Uncontrollable
Something or someone that is not controllable.
Example: The kids were so full of sugar and excitement waiting for Christmas break to start their teacher was beginning to wonder if they were uncontrollable.
Under
Extending or being directly below something.
Example: It is always a fantastic sight to see the many Christmas presents from Santa under the tree.
Undercooked
Something that is insufficiently cooked or cooked less than customarily preferred.
Example: I was so afraid the turkey would come out undercooked that I left it in the oven longer than it should have been and ended up burning it.
Underneath
Below something, as presents may sit beneath a tree.
Example: I tried to look underneath my parents’ bed to see if that was where they were hiding our Christmas presents. Unfortunately, it was not where they were.
Undertake
To promise to do a particular thing.
Example: My mom’s sister decided she would undertake the responsibility of cooking Christmas dinner, giving my Grandma a year off so she could enjoy the festivities with the family.
Unemployed
Not having a job.
Example: To help those who may be unemployed during the Christmas season, my family always adopts another family, bringing them Christmas dinner, cookies, and presents.
Uneven
Something that is not level, smooth, or even.
Example: The ice at the skating rink was uneven, and it caused me to trip, fall, and break my ankle, meaning I would be wearing a cast to Christmas dinner.
Unfortunate
Being unlucky or marked with bad fortune.
Example: It was unfortunate that my cousins could not visit this Christmas, but at least my aunt and uncle could join us.
Unhealthy
Something that is harmful to a person’s health or a person who does not show good health.
Example: There are so many unhealthy foods available during Christmas that avoiding the abundance of cookies, cakes, and goodies is challenging.
Union
The act of joining forces with another person or group of people.
Example: Santa’s elves created a union, and after they send him off on his way with the presents, they join together to celebrate and drink hot cocoa.
Unique
Unlike anything else in a particular way.
Example: Grandma made everyone in the family a new crochet blanket, ensuring each was unique.
Unity
A state of being joined together or in agreement.
Example: The community showed unity as they gathered to show support during this year’s Christmas fundraiser for the school.
Unlit
Not provided with light.
Example: I always hate when the holidays are over, and the Christmas tree is left unlit until we have time to take it down.
Unselfish
Willing to consider or help other people.
Example: It is very unselfish of those who take time away from their families to volunteer during Christmas.
Unselfishness
The quality of giving more time to the needs of other people, things, organizations, etc., than your own needs.
Example: John will be remembered for his unselfishness as he was always one to put the needs of others before his, especially during the holidays.
Unwrap
To remove the covering from something, such as a present.
Example: The kids were getting impatient because they could no longer wait to unwrap their Christmas presents.
Unwrapped
Having had the covering taken off.
Example: The twins’ bikes were too big, so their parents decided to leave them unwrapped under the Christmas tree.
Unwrapping
The act of removing wrapping.
Example: The children immediately ran to the Christmas tree and started unwrapping their presents before we could get to the living room from the dining room after dinner.
Uphold
To maintain a position or decision.
Example: It was tough for dad to uphold mom’s decision for us to skip Christmas at home and travel on vacation to somewhere warm, but he did, and we had a fantastic time.
Upholding
To confirm or support a position or to maintain a stand about something.
Example: The reindeer court was upholding Santa Claus’s decision to grant all the elves a long vacation after his Christmas Eve run.
Uplifting
Making someone feel more hopeful or cheerful.
Example: The priest’s sermon during Midnight Mass was very uplifting, and I was glad I could make it this year with the rest of my family.
Uplift
To raise the level of something up or to lift something or someone to a higher position.
Example: The refreshing smell of pine from the Christmas tree was enough to uplift my spirits and get me excited for the family to come over for our holiday celebration.
Christmas Words From A-Z
Here’s each list of Christmas words from the letters A to Z:
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
Christmas Word Activities
- Write five chosen words on cards, then match each word with a drawing or definition.
- Use three words in a Christmas card message or a short story. Include one object, one action, and one feeling.
- Play a sentence-building game: each player adds a sentence using a different word.
- For younger children, read the examples together and explain unfamiliar words before asking them to write.
You can make the activity easier by allowing phrases and proper names, or harder by using only words with a direct Christmas connection. Keep a separate list of general winter words so children can see the difference.
43 Christmas Words That Start With T (List With Meanings)
