untie

verb un·tie \ ˌən-ˈtī \

|Updated on: 11 Jul 2018

Examples: untie in a Sentence

Definition of untie

untied; untying or untieing

transitive verb

1 : to free from something that ties, fastens, or restrains : unbind

untied our hands

2 a : to disengage the knotted parts of

untie a shoe

b : disentangle, resolve

untie a traffic jam

intransitive verb

: to become loosened or unbound

See untie defined for English-language learners

See untie defined for kids

Examples of untie in a Sentence

He untied the package and opened it.
She untied the horse from the post.

Recent Examples of untie from the Web

The buzz: Croatia is one of three teams to survive the first round unbeaten and untied.

— kevin baxter, latimes.com, "Here's a look at Sunday's World Cup games," 30 June 2018
Ruth refuses to let the doctor cut off her boot, so Sam gently unties it and slips it off her swollen ankle.

— kathryn lindsay, refinery29.com, "R29 Binge Club: Glow Season 2, Episodes 1-10," 29 June 2018
This is a man who tried to untie an opponent's shoe, this is a man who talked to bystanders on the court during live action so that the guy could cut behind him and get the dunk.

— SI.com, "J.R. Smith vs. George Hill: Who Deserves More Blame for the Cavs' Collapse?," 1 June 2018
His crewman untied the trap’s bait bag and tossed the sour-smelling herring remains into the water, where a flock of sea gulls scuffled.

— New York Times, "Climate Change Brought a Lobster Boom. Now It Could Cause a Bust.," 21 June 2018
The yellow rope proved terrible, that hideous polyester stuff that unties your knot almost when you're done tying it and rots into nasty splinters.

— seth kantner, Anchorage Daily News, "We’re failing in our relationship with nature – and with each other," 9 June 2018
His behavior over time included touching the officer's hair, poking her under her arm near her breast, untying her shoes, and asking whether her 16-year-old daughter could date older men.

— paul egan, Detroit Free Press, "Female officers face widespread sexual harassment in Michigan's prison system," 21 Apr. 2018
Truman unties his binding and stumbles across the deck to the side rail.

— darryn king, WIRED, "Director Andrew Niccol Lives in His Own Truman Show (And So Do You)," 4 May 2018
Betty unties Chic at gunpoint and leads him out of the Cooper house and to a park.

— amy mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "Riverdale Season 2 Episode 19 Brought the Drama," 26 Apr. 2018

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

First Known Use of untie

before 12th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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untie Synonyms

UNTIE Defined for English Language Learners

untie

verb

Definition of untie for English Language Learners

: to undo the knots in or of (something)
: to remove the rope, string, etc., that attaches (something or someone) to something

UNTIE Defined for Kids

untie

verb un·tie \ ˌən-ˈtī \

Definition of untie for Students

untied; untying or untieing

1 : to undo the knots in

I can't untie my shoelaces.

2 : to free from something that fastens or holds back

He untied the horse.

Learn More about untie

See words that rhyme with untie Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for untie Spanish Central: Translation of untie Nglish: Translation of untie for Spanish speakers

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untie

Definition of untie

Examples of untie in a Sentence

Recent Examples of untie from the Web

First Known Use of untie

untie Synonyms

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UNTIE Defined for English Language Learners

untie

Definition of untie for English Language Learners

UNTIE Defined for Kids

untie

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