unpack
un-PAK
/ʌnˈpæk/
To remove contents from a bag, suitcase, or box after traveling.
Can also be used metaphorically meaning to analyze or explain a complex topic in detail.
The story behind the word. Formed in the 14th century by adding the Germanic prefix 'un-' (expressing reversal) to 'pack', literally meaning to reverse the action of bundling items together.
Word relationships
- empty: Empty implies removing everything completely, whereas unpack focuses on taking packed items out neatly.
- unburden: Unburden is figurative and literary.
- pack: To put clothes and belongings into a bag for travel.
Commonly confused with
- unload: Unload usually applies to vehicles, cargo ships, or heavy equipment, while unpack applies to bags and containers.
Collocations
- unpack your bag
- unpack suitcase
- unpack clothes
- unpack carefully
Idioms & expressions
- unpack an issue (to analyze or explain a complex issue)
Example sentences
- "As soon as we arrived at the hotel, I began to unpack my clothes and hang them in the closet." Hotel Arrival
- "Let us unpack the arguments presented in this chapter before moving to the conclusion." Academic Discussion
- "It took hours to unpack all our belongings after returning from two weeks in Europe." Return from Vacation
Memory hook
UN-do your PACK-ing. Take out what was packed.
When not to use
Do not use when simply taking one item out of a pocket; implies emptying or organizing items from a bag.
Fun facts
- In modern business jargon, 'unpack' is widely used to mean analyzing data or unpacking a idea.
Also appears in
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.