unlock

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ʌnˈlɑk/ UK /ʌnˈlɒk/ See IPA manual

Freq #7247

Meanings

1

verb
To open something that is locked, usually with a key or code.

I unlocked the door and walked in.
2

verb
To get access to something that was previously blocked or hidden.

You unlock the next level by collecting enough points.
3

verb
To reveal or release something hidden, such as knowledge or potential.

The discovery of a clue unlocked the mystery.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Word family

Forms unlockedunlockingunlocks

Etymology

From Middle English unloken, unlouken, onlouken, from Old English onlūcan (“to unlock”), equivalent to un- + lock. Cognate with Dutch ontluiken (“to unlock”).

unloken Middle English onlūcan Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# unlock

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ʌnˈlɑk/
**IPA (UK):** /ʌnˈlɒk/
**Frequency rank:** 7247

## Meanings
1. To open something that is locked, usually with a key or code.
2. To get access to something that was previously blocked or hidden.
3. To reveal or release something hidden, such as knowledge or potential.

## Examples
- I unlocked the door and walked in.
- You unlock the next level by collecting enough points.
- The discovery of a clue unlocked the mystery.

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: unloken
- Root: onlūcan
- Affix: un- - not

## Etymology
From Middle English unloken, unlouken, onlouken, from Old English onlūcan (“to unlock”), equivalent to un- + lock. Cognate with Dutch ontluiken (“to unlock”).

## AI Etymology
Unlock is from Middle English unloken, unlouken, onlouken, from Old English onlūcan (“to unlock”), equivalent to un- + lock. Cognate with Dutch ontluiken (“to unlock”). The historical line also includes Middle English unloken, Old English onlūcan. In present-day use, it can mean to open something that is locked, usually with a key or code, or to get access to something that was previously blocked or hidden.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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