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

• 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

The series' history will soon be explored in Netflix's documentary Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser, which promises to unpack the good, the bad, and the ugly of the contentious reality program. —Ryan Coleman Published, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025

If that look weren’t enough to unpack, she was also seen hugging Anne Hathaway’s Andy Sachs in another snap from set, which is an image Devil Wears Prada fans might not be ready for. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 15 Aug. 2025

The details of the context of what Archie said are worth unpacking, though. —Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025

Hearing that the evacuation status had been downgraded was enough for Michele Morgan, the proprietor of the Elk Mountain Inn, to unpack her car. —Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 8 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for unpack

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

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