unloading

verb

present participle of unload
1
as in discharging
to empty or rid of cargo the dockworkers unloaded the ship

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dumping
to get rid of as useless or unwanted I can't seem to unload this old car—even the charities won't take it!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unloading Parents groused that loading and unloading kids in the R1S could be a headache, especially with a child’s seat in the second row. — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 13 Aug. 2026 The timing shook out nicely, considering Berg would go on to be tapped to succeed Don Garber as MLS’ next commissioner and has subsequently been tasked with unloading his sizable ownership stake in LAFC. — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Despite unloading several key players before Monday’s trade deadline, the Orioles remain in the thick of the AL wild-card race after winning the first two games of this series against the last-place Angels. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 Despite unloading several key players before Monday's trade deadline, the Orioles remain in the thick of the AL wild-card race after winning the first two games of this series against the last-place Angels. — CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 FedEx is expanding on a robotics pilot to bring autonomous trailer loading and unloading capabilities to a Maryland distribution hub. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 3 Aug. 2026 Broken Items Vacation puts lots of wear and tear on items, whether due to fun in the sun or just loading or unloading luggage. — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 26 July 2026 The facility has more than 850 robots unloading auto parts, stamping out steel components, putting together car frames, and installing car doors, according to IEEE Spectrum. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2026 Their jobs involve unloading raw sugar arriving by ship at the C&H Sugar facility in Crockett. — Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unloading
  1. discharging
  2. dumping
  3. unpacking
  4. discarding
  5. evacuating
  6. ditching
  7. off-loading
  8. losing
Verb
  • The approach could help these batteries store more energy while maintaining performance during rapid charging and discharging.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Ty Anderson was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and illegally discharging a firearm, police said in a news release Monday.
    — Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of discharging
Verb
  • Tasks included scooping and dumping sand or gravel, digging and grading trenches, clearing debris from roads, removing tree branches from water edges, and breaking up rocks.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Another tale describes maintenance workers at the Old Zoo dumping spoiled soda syrup off the cliff, which lured swarms of bees.
    — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of dumping
Verb
  • Still, both experts say a few extra minutes of research before booking—and a five-minute room inspection before unpacking—can make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a vacation headache.
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 12 Aug. 2026
  • If unpacking into hotel drawers isn't your style, the VersaPack+ carry-on spinner keeps everything compartmentalized from departure through arrival.
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of unpacking
Verb
  • Typical recycling methods often rely on high energy, harsh chemicals, or high temperatures to recover only the carbon fibers while discarding or destroying the epoxy.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Baumgärtner says one goal is creating a more circular economy where manufacturers recover useful components from older products instead of discarding the entire device.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of discarding
Verb
  • Officials describe a once-in-a-lifetime flood, with hundreds of residents evacuating and dozens of swift-water rescues of people and pets across central Indiana counties[1][2].
    — Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • These hazards require taking proactive protective action, including evacuating from areas vulnerable to storm surge.
    — Karina Zaiets, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of evacuating
Verb
  • In 2018, Becerra, while serving as state attorney general, popped by Thomas’ golf tournament retirement party, ditching his security detail and fielding work calls from the links.
    — Ben Paviour August 17, Sacbee.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The driver continued into the University Park area before ditching the car in a neighborhood.
    — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of ditching
Verb
  • The transaction contained fundamental flaws, and AT&T eventually reversed course by off-loading WarnerMedia and combining it with Discovery.
    — Paul Hardart, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Following quickly on the heels of spinning off Versant Media earlier this year, Comcast is now off-loading the entirety of NBCUniversal.
    — Howard Homonoff, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of off-loading
Verb
  • Northeastern Poland was affected by the storm, too, with over 100,000 people losing power.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • After scoring the game’s first run in the top of the 10th, the Angels gave up two with two outs in the bottom of the inning, losing to the Texas Rangers, 2-1, on Friday night, once again wasting a scoreless start from Reid Detmers.
    — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of losing

Browse Nearby Words

unloaded
unloading
unloads
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Cite this Entry

“Unloading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unloading. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on unloading

Nglish: Translation of unloading for Spanish Speakers

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