unload

verb

un·​load ˌən-ˈlōd 

unloaded; unloading; unloads

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to take off : deliver

(2)

: to take the cargo from

unload the truck

b

: to give outlet to : pour forth

unloaded her bitter feelings

2

: to relieve of something burdensome, unwanted, or oppressive

unloaded the pack animals

unloaded himself to his friend

3

: to draw the charge from

unloaded the gun

4

: to sell or dispose of especially in large quantities : dump

5

: to hit or propel with a great release of power

unloaded his ninth homer

intransitive verb

1

: to perform the act of unloading

2

: to release or deliver something especially with power

unloaded on the ball

3

: to give forth a usually sudden angry outburst

the coach unloaded on his players

unloader noun

Synonyms

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

Examples of unload in a Sentence

It took four hours to unload the truck.

Could you help me unload the car?

After the ship docked, they unloaded its cargo.

I have to unload the groceries.

Most ships unload at another dock now.

The train made several stops to unload passengers.

Rumor has it that the manager wants to unload him. Maybe he'll be traded to another team.

She unloaded a huge amount of stock when prices fell.

Recent Examples on the Web

Her staff helped unload paperwork, office supplies, medical equipment and memorabilia. —Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 11 Apr. 2024

Macchiato was unloaded and brought to the fence for the first meeting. —Alexandra Rockey Fleming, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024

With time and a one-of-a-kind convertible on their hands, the drivers unloaded the car for a joyride on the then-new LA freeways. —Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024

Storms will also unload drenching rainfall and raise flooding risks. —Robert Shackelford, CNN, 1 Apr. 2024

And even if the attorney general succeeds in acquiring Mr. Trump’s real estate, unloading a 60-story skyscraper involves a spider web of transactions. —Rukmini Callimachi, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024

The team had unloaded more than 100 tons of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza on the maritime route. —John Bacon, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024

These are the workers who load and unload ships at the port. —Laurel Wamsley, NPR, 30 Mar. 2024

Chapman put a bow on the victory in the top of the ninth, unloading on his second homer of the night, a towering shot off the very top of the Western Metal Supply Co. building that was measured at 407 feet, and finished the game 3-for-5 with five RBIs, also doubling home Jorge Soler in the fourth. —Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

unload

verb

un·​load ˌən-ˈlōd 

ˈən-

1

a

: to take away or off : remove

unload cargo from a hold

b

: to take a load from

unload a ship

also : to rid or set free : unburden

unload your mind of worries

2

: to get rid of or be freed of a load or burden

the ship is unloading now

3

: to sell in large quantities : dump

unload surplus goods