untie

un·tie | \ ˌən-ˈtī

How to pronounce untie (audio)

\

untied; untying or untieing

Definition of untie

transitive verb

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

2a : to disengage the knotted parts of untie a shoe

b : disentangle, resolve untie a traffic jam

intransitive verb

: to become loosened or unbound

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about untie

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Examples of untie in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web So throughout every game, the Cardinals veteran punter will tie and untie his right cleat, in sync with the ups and downs of the game. — Katherine Fitzgerald, azcentral, "'She'll always be there': Cardinals punter Andy Lee honors late daughter with cleats," 6 Dec. 2019 Early in the second quarter, running back J.K. Dobbins was running free, and the Michigan defense tried to throw him off by attempting to untie and take off his left shoe. — Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, "Two Michigan defenders remove Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins' shoe, get 15-yard penalty," 30 Nov. 2019 Defensive tackle Carlo Kemp, with the help of defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, untied and removed the shoe of Dobbins after the play. — Tim Bielik, cleveland, "Michigan’s Carlo Kemp committed a 15-yard penalty by untying and removing J.K. Dobbins’ shoe," 30 Nov. 2019 That tied the game, and Chapman untied it in the eighth, belting a 1-1 changeup from Chris Devenski out to left. — Susan Slusser, SFChronicle.com, "On 10-homer night at Coliseum, A’s beat Astros 7-6," 15 Aug. 2019 What do untied bow ties, combat jackets, zebra prints, sandals, denim shirts and tulle have in common? — Washington Post, "Secret gardens and co-ed styles hit Paris men’s collections," 22 June 2019 Surveillance footage shows the men holding the man’s weight and untying the sheet. — Fox News, "3 Georgia inmates stop man from trying to commit suicide: report," 19 July 2019 For them, the value in anger and aggression has not yet been untied from toxic masculinity. — Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, "The Decline of Yelling," 31 July 2019 Johansen says the suspects eventually untied the victim and allowed him to leave. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "3 arrested in San Bruno on hate crime, kidnapping charges," 26 Aug. 2019

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.

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Last Updated

12 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Untie.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/untie. Accessed 12 December 2019.

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More Definitions for untie

untie

verb

English Language Learners Definition of untie

: to undo the knots in or of (something)

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

See the full definition for untie in the English Language Learners Dictionary

untie

un·tie | \ ˌən-ˈtī

\

untied; untying or untieing

Kids Definition of untie

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.

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