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

a

: to remove something from

unloading the dishwasher

b

: to draw the charge from

unloaded the gun

4

: to get rid of : dump

unloaded the stock when prices fell

Rumor has it the team manager wants to unload him.

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 of unload

• unpack
• evacuate
• discharge
• unlade
• unburden
• off-load

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

Although the crew unloaded about half of the cargo, a crack in the hull ultimately caused the ship to sink, leaving thousands of tonnes of explosives on the seabed. — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026

My mother lived in senior housing so the kind delivery person would even unload the groceries and put them away. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026

His trucks can spend five or six days unloading instead of two. — Dominique Soguel, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2026

And to unload those, Harry has a close pal and longtime co-conspirator, the wily, wisecracking pawnshop owner Ben (Steve Buscemi). — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for unload

• abode
• anode
• barcode
• bestowed
• boatload
• borrowed
• carload
• caseload
• cathode
• commode
• corrode
• crossroad

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