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verb C1 Advanced

untangle

uhn-TANG-guhl

Untangle (verb) means to free something from knots or tangles. Example: “It took ten minutes to untangle the necklace chain.”

verb
1
To free something from knots or tangles.
"It took ten minutes to untangle the necklace chain."
2
To sort out something confusing or complicated.
"Lawyers spent months trying to untangle the company's finances."

How to use untangle

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo undo knots — literal ones or a confusing, tangled-up situation.

Common pairings
untangle a knot untangle the mess untangle the situation

Word forms

untangled past tense, untangles singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

It took ten minutes to _____ the necklace chain.

Etymology

From un- + tangle.

Antonyms

Related words

Rhymes for untangle

See all rhymes for untangle →

Frequently asked questions

What does “untangle” mean?

The word “untangle” means to free something from knots or tangles. In plain terms, to undo knots — literal ones or a confusing, tangled-up situation.

How do you pronounce “untangle”?

“Untangle” is pronounced uhn-TANG-guhl (/ʌnˈtæŋ.ɡəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “untangle” in a sentence?

Here is “untangle” used in a sentence: “It took ten minutes to untangle the necklace chain.”

What is another word for “untangle”?

Words with a similar meaning to “untangle” include disentangle, feeze, tease out, unravel and unsnarl.

What is the opposite of “untangle”?

The opposite of “untangle” — its antonyms — is tangle.

What part of speech is “untangle”?

“Untangle” is a verb.

How many meanings does “untangle” have?

“Untangle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to free something from knots or tangles.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial · etymology from Wiktionary