Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

unburden

verb
Save Word
un·​bur·​den | \ ˌən-ˈbər-dᵊn How to pronounce unburden (audio) \
unburdened; unburdening; unburdens

Definition of unburden

transitive verb

1 : to free or relieve from a burden
2 : to relieve oneself of (cares, fears, worries, etc.) : cast off
Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about unburden

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms & Antonyms for unburden

Synonyms

Antonyms

Visit the Thesaurus for More 

Examples of unburden in a Sentence

the crew was frantically unburdening the ship in an attempt to save it a generous friend unburdened her of that particular financial worry
Recent Examples on the Web In one sordid chain of events, Mr. Gantz’s top strategist unburdened himself to a rabbi and, in the process, denigrated his client. — New York Times, "Israeli Election Gives Edge to Netanyahu, Initial Results Show," 2 Mar. 2020 That will help the cellphone carrier and pay-TV distributor unburden some of its massive debt. — Elizabeth Winkler, WSJ, "Hulu Sale Sets Stage for Disney-Comcast Showdown," 16 Apr. 2019 In addition to our own deregulatory actions, the other two branches of government have scored helpful assists in our goal of unburdening the labor force. — Patrick Pizzella, National Review, "The Deregulatory Achievements of the Trump Labor Department," 6 Feb. 2020 Mobile officiants, unburdened with the high costs of venue maintenance, can offer more competitive prices, pulling crowds from the classics on the Strip. — Cassidy George, New York Times, "Why Won’t Anyone Buy the Most Famous Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas?," 12 Oct. 2019 May her soul fly free at last, unburdened now by the sorrows of the world. — Los Angeles Times, "‘House Hunters’ host Suzanne Whang dead at 56 after cancer fight," 20 Sep. 2019 In one sordid chain of events, Gantz’s top strategist unburdened himself to a rabbi and, in the process, denigrated his client. — BostonGlobe.com, "Israeli election gives edge to Netanyahu, exit polls show," 2 Mar. 2020 The widening and expansion of Highway 36 is intended to unburden congested thoroughfares, provide a direct route between Hempstead and Freeport and offer a better hurricane evacuation route for residents in Waller, Fort Bend and Brazoria counties. — Claire Goodman, Houston Chronicle, "Texas Department of Transportation gives updates on Highway 36," 3 Feb. 2020 Unlike other opioids, tramadol flowed freely around the world, unburdened by international controls that track most dangerous drugs. — Washington Post, "Another opioid crisis is raging through the developing world," 13 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unburden.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of unburden

circa 1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about unburden

Time Traveler for unburden

Time Traveler

The first known use of unburden was circa 1538

See more words from the same year

Statistics for unburden

Cite this Entry

“Unburden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unburden. Accessed 21 Oct. 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for unburden

unburden

verb
How to pronounce unburden (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of unburden

: to take a problem or burden away from (someone or something)

See the full definition for unburden in the English Language Learners Dictionary

unburden

verb
un·​bur·​den | \ ˌən-ˈbər-dᵊn How to pronounce unburden (audio) \
unburdened; unburdening

Kids Definition of unburden

: to free from a burden and especially from something causing worry or unhappiness After weeks of worry she unburdened herself to her friends.

More from Merriam-Webster on unburden

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for unburden

Nglish: Translation of unburden for Spanish Speakers

Comments on unburden

What made you want to look up unburden? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

dorsal

Listen to the pronunciation of dorsal

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

Farm Idioms Quiz

  • cow coming home
  • What does 'poke' refer to in the expression 'pig in a poke'?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Citation

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games