untie

verb

un·​tie ˌən-ˈtī How to pronounce untie (audio)
untied; untying or untieing

transitive verb

1
: to free from something that ties, fastens, or restrains : unbind
untied our hands
2
a
: to disengage the knotted parts of
untie a shoe
b
: disentangle, resolve
untie a traffic jam

intransitive verb

: to become loosened or unbound

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
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.
Sean Payton may as well have been telling Bo Nix his shoe was untied. Nick Kosmider, The Athletic, 21 Aug. 2024 The victim started to untie the rope, but Cagle jumped on his legs. Kc Baker, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024 The driver then got out of his car, untied the dogs from the bumper and left them for dead, prosecutors said. Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024 Campbell and Jet kiss before untying a picnic basket sealed with a bow. Angel Saunders, People.com, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for untie 

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of untie was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near untie

Cite this Entry

“Untie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/untie. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

untie

verb
un·​tie ˌən-ˈtī How to pronounce untie (audio)
ˈən-
untied; untying or untieing
1
: to free from something that ties or fastens : unbind
untie a horse
2
a
: to undo the knotted parts of
untied her scarf
b
: to straighten out : resolve
untie a traffic jam
3
: to become loosened or unbound
the strings untied easily

More from Merriam-Webster on untie

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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