1 untie | Definition of untie
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untie

verb
un·​tie | \ ˌən-ˈtÄ« 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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Synonyms & Antonyms for untie

Synonyms

unbind, undo, unfasten, unlash

Antonyms

bind, fasten, knot, lash, tie

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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

 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 The suspects eventually untied the victim and allowed him to leave. — Jason Green, The Mercury News, "San Bruno: 3 arrested on hate crime, kidnapping charges," 23 Aug. 2019 When Patterson’s shoelace came untied, Hackel bent over and helped him out. — Kathleen Gray, Detroit Free Press, "How Michigan is remembering Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson," 3 Aug. 2019 The man then unties the dog and walks away with her. — Los Angeles Times, "Man accused of stealing golden retriever in San Francisco is arrested," 26 July 2019 The happy ending, announced early Monday by police, came less than two days after surveillance footage captured a man untying Lily’s leash from a pole at the market. — Pete Grieve, SFChronicle.com, "Stolen dog reunited with SF owner, suspect still at large," 15 July 2019 The lace of one black boot came untied, and one of the furious skirt’s feet tripped over the other. — Silvina Ocampo, The New Yorker, "Skylight," 11 July 2019 The act tells colleges, in so many words, their hands must be untied. — Michael Mccann, SI.com, "Does the NCAA's Threat to California Schools' Championship Access Hold Up?," 25 June 2019 Then, structure talks about emergency moves, like storing drinking water and untying livestock, using a sorting game adapted from one by the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre. — Laura Pappano, New York Times, "From Albania to Singapore, U.S. Students Look for Tailored Experiences Abroad," 7 June 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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First Known Use of untie

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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More Definitions for untie

untie

verb
How to pronounce untie (audio)

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

verb
un·​tie | \ ˌən-ˈtÄ« How to pronounce untie (audio) \
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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More from Merriam-Webster on untie

Rhyming Dictionary: 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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