unpack

verb

un·​pack ˌən-ˈpak 

unpacked; unpacking; unpacks

transitive verb

1

a

: to remove the contents of

unpack a suitcase

b

: unburden, reveal

must … unpack my heart with words

—William Shakespeare

2

: to remove or undo from packing or a container

unpacked his gear

3

: to analyze the nature of by examining in detail : explicate

unpack a concept

4

: decompress sense 2

unpack a compressed file

intransitive verb

: to engage in unpacking a container

unpacker noun

Synonyms

• disburden
• discharge
• disencumber
• off-load
• unburden
• unlade
• unload

Examples of unpack in a Sentence

It's been a year since I moved here and I still haven't unpacked all of my books.

I unpacked my suitcase as soon as I arrived home.

By the time we got to the hotel, I was too tired to unpack.

She's good at unpacking complex concepts.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adam Mahoney delicately unpacks the history and issues at play for Capital B. One tribe that calls the Tahoe Basin home is the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan. —Michelle Weber, Longreads, 4 Dec. 2024

Cramer unpacked recent market action after the U.S. announced a third export sanction on high-tech goods to China. —Julie Coleman, CNBC, 3 Dec. 2024

The hinged branches are pre-attached to make unpacking and packing a breeze. —Nicol Natale, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024

Jen O’Malley Dillon, David Plouffe, Quentin Fulks, and Stephanie Cutter unpacked the coconut campaign with Dan Pfeiffer and discussed Hot Ones passing on Kamala Harris, and the scheduling snafu that kept her off The Joe Rogan Experience. —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

unpack

verb

un·​pack ˌən-ˈpak 

ˈən-

1

: to separate and remove things packed

got home and unpacked

2

: to open and remove the contents of

unpack a trunk