unpacked; unpacking; unpacks
1
2
: to remove or undo from packing or a container
unpacked his gear
3
: to analyze the nature of by examining in detail : explicate
unpack a concept
4
: decompress sense 2
unpack a compressed file
: to engage in unpacking a container
unpacker
noun
Synonyms
Examples of unpack in a Sentence
It's been a year since I moved here and I still haven't unpacked all of my books.
I unpacked my suitcase as soon as I arrived home.
By the time we got to the hotel, I was too tired to unpack.
She's good at unpacking complex concepts.
Recent Examples on the Web
For some reason, the elevated suitcase encourages me to unpack way more than one that’s shoved in the corner of my room.
—
Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 4 Feb. 2025
Once upon a time, people came home from their vacations or their business trips and unpacked their suitcases.
—Lynne Agress, Baltimore Sun, 2 Feb. 2025
This is just the beginning of the fight on the right against DEI and there’s so much more to unpack, which is why next week Unbothered is kicking off our Black History Month package, a series of stories rolling out all month, focused on DEI.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 30 Jan. 2025
In this presentation, photographer Richard Mosse understands light as a form of heat and uses both to unpack complex geopolitical movements.
—Photovogue, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unpack 
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.
Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 4 Feb. 2025
Once upon a time, people came home from their vacations or their business trips and unpacked their suitcases.
—Lynne Agress, Baltimore Sun, 2 Feb. 2025
This is just the beginning of the fight on the right against DEI and there’s so much more to unpack, which is why next week Unbothered is kicking off our Black History Month package, a series of stories rolling out all month, focused on DEI.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 30 Jan. 2025
In this presentation, photographer Richard Mosse understands light as a form of heat and uses both to unpack complex geopolitical movements.
—Photovogue, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unpack
Dictionary Entries Near unpack
Cite this Entry
“Unpack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unpack. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unpack
verb
un·pack
ˌən-ˈpak 
ˈən-
1
: to separate and remove things packed
got home and unpacked
2
: to open and remove the contents of
unpack a trunk
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share