unpack

verb

un·​pack ˌən-ˈpak How to pronounce unpack (audio)
unpacked; unpacking; unpacks

transitive verb

1
a
: to remove the contents of
unpack a suitcase
b
: unburden, reveal
must … unpack my heart with wordsWilliam 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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
No question, there was a great deal to unpack after their 38-24 loss Sunday to the Indianapolis Colts at SoFi Stadium, starting with a defense that gave up far too many big plays on the ground and through the air to satisfy anyone in a unit that’s suddenly under siege. Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025 Before that, however, there are other (far more violent) matters to unpack. Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025 Moderated by Billboard’s senior editor of Latin Griselda Flores and presented by Live Nation, the panel unpacked the changing dynamics of the live Latin music market – from breaking into untapped regions to capitalizing on the genre’s cultural crossover appeal. Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 20 Oct. 2025 Featuring the good, the bad and the ugly, ‘Look of the Week’ is a regular series dedicated to unpacking the most talked about outfit of the last seven days. Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unpack

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of unpack was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Unpack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unpack. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

unpack

verb
un·​pack ˌən-ˈpak How to pronounce unpack (audio)
ˈən-
1
: to separate and remove things packed
got home and unpacked
2
: to open and remove the contents of
unpack a trunk

More from Merriam-Webster on unpack

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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