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 of unpack

• 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

There’s a lot to unpack in the dime novel origins of the Western, as well as the dime novel to Wild West show pipeline, which was instrumental in creating global legends out of folk heroes like Buffalo Bill Cody. — Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026

If unpacking into hotel drawers isn't your style, the VersaPack+ carry-on spinner keeps everything compartmentalized from departure through arrival. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026

In a lengthy feature published Sunday, the New York Times unpacked how Oracle executive chairman and CTO Larry Ellison’s aggressive spending on AI has left his company so heavily leveraged that its bonds are nearing junk ratings. — Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 11 Aug. 2026

In other words, start by asking questions to better unpack the reasoning behind the decision. — Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for unpack

• aback
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback
• cutback

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