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

Give a friend a safe place to unpack what’s troubling them without advice or judgment. — Jason Moehr, Baltimore Sun, 14 Nov. 2026

On this episode of The Vergecast, David and Nilay start by trying to unpack the many parts of the story. — David Pierce, The Verge, 13 Nov. 2026

The two-sided design helps keep everything organized from departure to unpacking day, while smooth 360-degree wheels glide through airports, hotels and city streets. — David Dickstein, Oc Register, 11 Nov. 2026

This episode traces the history of race and diabetes in America to unpack why Black patients are still less likely to get access to GLP-1s, and why closing that gap will take more than a prescription. — Dolly Li, Vox, 11 Nov. 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