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

Both Republicans unloaded on Cooper's tenure as governor, with Trump blaming Cooper for a grisly North Carolina murder and accusing him of doing nothing to help the state after Hurricane Helene inflicted widespread damage in 2024. — Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026

Many showed up every morning, unloading pallets of potatoes, working the front desk, helping others who came for food. — Claire Galofaro, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

Stitt pushes and unloads the heavy cart while Bayless guides the way with their list, checking off household staples like bottled water, sugar and toilet paper. — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026

Once that waterway closed, Saudi Arabia began re-routing crude along its East-to-West pipeline and unloading barrels at the Red Sea port of Yanbu. — Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 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