as in unloading
to empty or rid of cargo
unpacked the car the minute they got back from vacation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 unpacking
Nothing is worse than unpacking your suitcase and seeing that your overpriced moisturizer has spilled onto your favorite sweater—avoid that kind of mess with the Crush Toiletry Bag, available in several fun shades.
—
Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
For ease of setup, there are some mattresses that arrive in a box and expand to their full size after unpacking.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 4 Nov. 2025
As well as unpacking women’s financial goals, the report also explored how their investment strategies differ from those of their male counterparts.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
Now, Ben and his sister Amy Stiller are looking back at the hours of footage their parents left behind, unpacking their legacy — both personally and professionally.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Featuring the good, the bad and the ugly, ‘Look of the Week’ is a regular series dedicated to unpacking the most talked about outfit of the last seven days.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
The artwork was not known to be missing until cultural center employees began unpacking the artworks three days later.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
None of the elephants in the room will be ignored at the fourth edition of the Venice Sustainable Fashion Forum, the yearly summit aimed at unpacking the ongoing eco-journey for the fashion and textile sector.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2025
Both a personal coming-of-age story and a snapshot of a transformative era in music and nightlife, the book recounts the elite record producer’s early years, unpacking how his upbringing and family life informed his tastes, ambitions, and eventual path into DJing in ’90s NYC.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2025
Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
For ease of setup, there are some mattresses that arrive in a box and expand to their full size after unpacking.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 4 Nov. 2025
As well as unpacking women’s financial goals, the report also explored how their investment strategies differ from those of their male counterparts.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
Now, Ben and his sister Amy Stiller are looking back at the hours of footage their parents left behind, unpacking their legacy — both personally and professionally.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Featuring the good, the bad and the ugly, ‘Look of the Week’ is a regular series dedicated to unpacking the most talked about outfit of the last seven days.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
The artwork was not known to be missing until cultural center employees began unpacking the artworks three days later.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
None of the elephants in the room will be ignored at the fourth edition of the Venice Sustainable Fashion Forum, the yearly summit aimed at unpacking the ongoing eco-journey for the fashion and textile sector.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2025
Both a personal coming-of-age story and a snapshot of a transformative era in music and nightlife, the book recounts the elite record producer’s early years, unpacking how his upbringing and family life informed his tastes, ambitions, and eventual path into DJing in ’90s NYC.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unpacking
unloading
Verb
-
Bay and La, along with Pah Reh, 21, and Luh Reh, 23, were arrested and charged with murder after Kaing was killed by bullet from a nearby shooting while unloading food from her car outside her Xenia Street apartment complex on July 15, 2022.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Studies conducted in recent years have shown that women in heterosexual couples predominantly take on the brunt of domestic tasks—managing the family’s calendar, unloading the dishwasher, feeding pets.—
Paula Mejía,
The Atlantic,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unpacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpacking. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share