verb
C2
Proficient
unravel
uhn-RA-vuhl
Unravel (verb) means to untangle or separate threads that have become knotted or woven together. Example: “She patiently unravelled the tangled ball of wool.”
verb
1
To untangle or separate threads that have become knotted or woven together.
"She patiently unravelled the tangled ball of wool."
"He unravelled the old sweater to reuse the yarn."
2
To work out or solve something confusing or mysterious, piece by piece.
"Detectives slowly unravelled the mystery behind the disappearance."
"It took years to unravel the truth about the scandal."
3
To fall apart or break down into disorder.
"Their plan began to unravel the moment the weather turned."
"His alibi unravelled under close questioning."
How to use unravel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo undo something tangled or confusing, either literally (knots, fabric) or figuratively (mysteries, plans falling apart).
Memory tip
It works both ways: you can unravel a sweater with your hands, or a situation can unravel on its own.
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Common pairings
unravel a mystery
unravel the truth
begin to unravel
unravel a plot
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- unravels
- Past tense
- unraveled, unravelled
- Archaic forms
- unravellest, unravelest, unravelledst, unraveledst, unravelleth, unraveleth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It took years to _____ the truth about the scandal.
Etymology
From un- ("reverse of") plus ravel, "to tangle" — so literally "to un-tangle."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for unravel
See all rhymes for unravel →Frequently asked questions
What does “unravel” mean?
The word “unravel” means to untangle or separate threads that have become knotted or woven together. In plain terms, to undo something tangled or confusing, either literally (knots, fabric) or figuratively (mysteries, plans falling apart).
How do you pronounce “unravel”?
“Unravel” is pronounced uhn-RA-vuhl (/ˌʌnˈɹævəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “unravel” in a sentence?
Here is “unravel” used in a sentence: “She patiently unravelled the tangled ball of wool.”
What part of speech is “unravel”?
“Unravel” is a verb.
How many meanings does “unravel” have?
“Unravel” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to untangle or separate threads that have become knotted or woven together.
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