unravel C2 Topic:Verbs of Movement US /ˌʌnˈɹævəl/ UK /(ˌ)ʌnˈɹævl̩/ See IPA manual Freq #17405 Meanings 1 verb To gradually understand or solve something complicated, such as a mystery or problem. Detectives slowly began to unravel the truth behind the crime. 2 verb To separate the threads of something woven or knitted, or to come apart in this way. The old sweater started to unravel at the cuffs. 3 verb To fall apart or fail after seeming to work or hold together. Their carefully made plans began to unravel at the last minute. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to gradually understand or... puzzle outdecipherresolveuntangle 2 verb · to separate the threads of... unpickdisentangleuntangle Word family Forms unraveledunravelingunravelledunravellingunravels Derived forms unravelableunraveledunravelerunravelingunravellableunravelledunravellerunravellingunravelment Etymology AI details PIE word *h₂énti From un- (suffix denoting the inverse of the specified action) + ravel. cognates * Dutch ontrafelen (“to unravel”) Topics Verbs of Movement External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # unravel **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** verb **IPA (US):** /ˌʌnˈɹævəl/ **IPA (UK):** /(ˌ)ʌnˈɹævl̩/ **Frequency rank:** 17405 ## Meanings 1. To gradually understand or solve something complicated, such as a mystery or problem. 2. To separate the threads of something woven or knitted, or to come apart in this way. 3. To fall apart or fail after seeming to work or hold together. ## Examples - Detectives slowly began to unravel the truth behind the crime. - The old sweater started to unravel at the cuffs. - Their carefully made plans began to unravel at the last minute. ## Derived Forms - unravelable - unraveled - unraveler - unraveling - unravellable - unravelled - unraveller - unravelling - unravelment ## Etymology PIE word *h₂énti From un- (suffix denoting the inverse of the specified action) + ravel. cognates * Dutch ontrafelen (“to unravel”) ## AI Etymology Unravel is from un- (suffix denoting the inverse of the specified action) + ravel. cognates * Dutch ontrafelen (“to unravel”). The deeper Proto-Indo-European form is *h₂énti. In present-day use, it can mean to gradually understand or solve something complicated, such as a mystery or problem, or to separate the threads of something woven or knitted, or to come apart in this way. Derived formations include unravelable, unraveled, unraveler, unraveling, and unravellable. ## Topics - Verbs of Movement markdown