unravel

verb un·rav·el \ ˌən-ˈra-vəl \

Updated on: 9 May 2018

Definition of unravel

transitive verb

1 a : to disengage or separate the threads of : disentangle

b : to cause to come apart by or as if by separating the threads of

2 : to resolve the intricacy, complexity, or obscurity of : clear up

unravel a mystery

intransitive verb

: to become unraveled

See unravel defined for English-language learners

See unravel defined for kids

Examples of unravel in a Sentence

Scientists are still unraveling the secrets of DNA.
Their plans unraveled when she lost her job.
His frequent absences from home caused his marriage to unravel.
I feel like my life is unraveling.

Recent Examples of unravel from the Web

But the story began to unravel in October 2015 after The Wall Street Journal, owned by Mr. Murdoch’s News Corp., began questioning whether the tests worked.

— reed abelson and katie thomas, New York Times, "Caught in the Theranos Wreckage: Betsy DeVos, Rupert Murdoch and Walmart’s Waltons," 4 May 2018
But there were six in the fourth, when things began to unravel.

— bruce jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle, "Warriors win, with an emotional farewell to the Spurs," 24 Apr. 2018
In 2015, prosecutors say, the relationship began to unravel.

— keith l. alexander, Washington Post, "D.C. murder trial opens with 911 call from victim’s terrified 11-year-old daughter," 23 Apr. 2018
Her presidency — a first for a woman in East Asia — began to unravel in the fall of 2015 amid media revelations that a longtime confidant, Choi Soon-sil, who had no government position, had access to secret government documents under Park's control.

— matt stiles, latimes.com, "Ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye is sentenced to 24 years in prison," 6 Apr. 2018
Her scheme began to unravel last March when police were contacted by a former roommate and an ex-boyfriend.

— cleve r. wootson jr., chicagotribune.com, "Oregon day-care worker gets 21 years for drugging children so she could go tanning, do CrossFit," 11 Mar. 2018
After a promising start in his first year with the Pirates, things began to unravel the following spring.

— joseph person, charlotteobserver, "Gamecocks TE Hayden Hurst’s wild pro baseball career turned him into an NFL prospect | Charlotte Observer," 8 Mar. 2018
But a tale of long-standing abuse has slowly started to unravel.

— breanna edwards, The Root, "Body Recovered From Ocean Near California Cliff That Hart Family’s SUV Drove Over," 10 Apr. 2018
Once that thread was pulled, Leche's governorship began quickly to unravel, laying bare an extensive network of graft and corruption.

— mike scott, NOLA.com, "In a Mandeville swamp, an accidental memorial to a historically crooked politican," 10 Apr. 2018

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

First Known Use of unravel

1603

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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unravel Synonyms

UNRAVEL Defined for English Language Learners

unravel

verb

Definition of unravel for English Language Learners

: to cause the separate threads of something to come apart
: to find the correct explanation for (something that is difficult to understand)
: to fail or begin to fail