unpack

verb

un·​pack ˌən-ˈpak 

unpacked; unpacking; unpacks

transitive verb

1

a

: to remove the contents of

unpack a suitcase

b

: unburden, reveal

must … unpack my heart with words

—William Shakespeare

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

intransitive verb

: to engage in unpacking a container

unpacker noun

Synonyms

• disburden
• discharge
• disencumber
• off-load
• unburden
• unlade
• unload

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

Entertainment Weekly unpacks that infamous cut to black in the show's final moments. —Will Harris, EW.com, 23 Jan. 2025

President Donald Trump has officially been sworn in for a second term, and late-night hosts are here to unpack a historic Inauguration Day. —Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025

There Is a Business and Technological Tension Between Traditional-Computing AI and Quantum AI There is much to unpack here. —Luis E. Romero, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025

Pizza makers from all over the city were squashed inside, unpacking supplies and folding boxes. —Tejal Rao, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids 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