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

If there’s divergence, unpack why before attempting to finalize a decision. —Lindsay Phillips, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

Two screenshots from the viral video showing the Albie unpacking his case. —Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025

In one photo, the proud mom could be seen helping her daughter unpack her dorm room, surrounded by bags and boxes. —Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025

The character — and those punchlines — carry a different meaning today, as unpacked by this documentary about nonconformity and being seen. —Chris Foran, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 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