untie
uhn-TEYE
Untie (verb) means to undo a knot or something tied. Example: “She knelt down to untie her shoelaces.”
verb
1
To undo a knot or something tied.
"She knelt down to untie her shoelaces."
"He untied the boat from the dock before rowing out."
2
To free someone or something from being bound.
"The hostages were finally untied and allowed to leave."
How to use untie
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo loosen or undo something that was tied.
Common pairings
untie a knot
untie your shoelaces
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- unties
- Past tense
- untied
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She knelt down to _____ her shoelaces.
Etymology
Came into English via Middle English untien, unteyen, untyȝen, untiȝen, which developed from Old English untīġan (“to untie”), made up of un- and tie.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for untie
See all rhymes for untie →Frequently asked questions
What does “untie” mean?
The word “untie” means to undo a knot or something tied. In plain terms, to loosen or undo something that was tied.
How do you pronounce “untie”?
“Untie” is pronounced uhn-TEYE (/ʌnˈtaɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “untie” in a sentence?
Here is “untie” used in a sentence: “She knelt down to untie her shoelaces.”
What is another word for “untie”?
Words with a similar meaning to “untie” include unfasten.
What is the opposite of “untie”?
The opposite of “untie” — its antonyms — is tie.
What part of speech is “untie”?
“Untie” is a verb.
How many meanings does “untie” have?
“Untie” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to undo a knot or something tied.
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