unpack

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ʌnˈpæk/ See IPA manual

Freq #12010

Meanings

1

verb
To take things out of a bag, box, or suitcase

It took her an hour to unpack her suitcase after the trip.
2

verb
To examine an idea or topic closely in order to explain it

The teacher took time to unpack the meaning of the poem.
3

verb
To open a compressed computer file and restore it to its full size

You can unpack the downloaded file with the unzip command.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to take things out of a... take out

Opposites

pack

Word family

Forms unpackedunpackingunpacks

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

unpack a bag
take one's belongings out of a bag after arriving

Verb + noun

Etymology

From Middle English unpakken, equivalent to un- + pack. Compare Saterland Frisian uutpakje (“to unpack”), West Frisian útpakke (“to unpack”), Dutch uitpakken (“to unpack”), German auspacken (“to unpack”).

unpakken Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# unpack

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ʌnˈpæk/
**Frequency rank:** 12010

## Meanings
1. To take things out of a bag, box, or suitcase
2. To examine an idea or topic closely in order to explain it
3. To open a compressed computer file and restore it to its full size

## Examples
- It took her an hour to unpack her suitcase after the trip.
- The teacher took time to unpack the meaning of the poem.
- You can unpack the downloaded file with the unzip command.

## Antonyms
- pack

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: unpakken

## Etymology
From Middle English unpakken, equivalent to un- + pack. Compare Saterland Frisian uutpakje (“to unpack”), West Frisian útpakke (“to unpack”), Dutch uitpakken (“to unpack”), German auspacken (“to unpack”).

## AI Etymology
Unpack is from Middle English unpakken, equivalent to un- + pack. Compare Saterland Frisian uutpakje (“to unpack”), West Frisian útpakke (“to unpack”), Dutch uitpakken (“to unpack”), German auspacken (“to unpack”). The historical line also includes Middle English unpakken. In present-day use, it can mean to take things out of a bag, box, or suitcase, or to examine an idea or topic closely in order to explain it.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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