unlock
verb · noun
Simple meaning
To open something that was locked — or, figuratively, to make something available.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
uhnlahkSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ənˈlɑk
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
verb
transitive
To undo or open a lock or something locked by, for example, turning a key, or selecting a combination.
transitive
To obtain access to something; to meet the requirements of a security or protection system.
intransitive
To be or become unfastened or unrestrained.
transitive
To disclose or reveal previously unknown knowledge or potential.
transitivefigurative
To make available.
transitive
To undermine something that has control over a situation; to find a way to counter or oppose.
noun
The act of unlocking something.
Understand the Word
How this word is built, and what each part adds.
Un- signals the reversal of an action: to unlock something is to undo the lock on it.
- un-
- reverses the action
- lock
- fasten so it cannot be opened
Prefix function , Reverses an action
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Frequency
- Moderately Common
- Typical Use
- Neutral / general English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: To be or become unfastened or unrestrained.
Used this way, unlock is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- No strong connotation
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use unlock
- “The door unlocked from the inside.”verb
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.