unfasten

verb

un·​fas·​ten ˌən-ˈfa-sᵊn How to pronounce unfasten (audio)
unfastened; unfastening; unfastens

transitive verb

: to make loose: such as
b
: undo
unfasten a button
c
: detach
unfasten a boat from its moorings

Examples of unfasten in a Sentence

gently unfastened the strings of the baby's hood
Recent Examples on the Web This would include a visual warning informing the driver that lasts at least 60 seconds once the car is turned on and a 30-second audio-visual warning if a rear belt is unfastened while the car is on and in gear. Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 22 Aug. 2023 When the flight climbed past an altitude of 10,000 feet, passengers were allowed to unfasten their seat belts. Alex Sundby, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2023 When the bus comes to a halt, Young unfastens his seat belt and stands up to address the students still onboard. Christina Coulter, Fox News, 19 Oct. 2023 So, in essence, 'untie' means 'to unfasten something that was previously tied or bound'. Erik Kain, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2023 To unfasten the first screw amid the steady drip of tourists and guards requires ten minutes of concentrated effort, even with the margin for error shaved thin. Michael Finkel, Town & Country, 27 June 2023 Workers had unfastened the bridge from the pilings so that when the tide rose, the bridge would rise with it on the barge. Brian Amaral, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Apr. 2023 Meyer threatened to cut Crawford’s seat belt, but Crawford unfastened it. Guillermo Contreras, San Antonio Express-News, 19 Apr. 2023 Once the bag is full, unfasten the tabs and lift the liner out of the hamper. Sarah Wolf Halverson, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unfasten.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unfasten was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near unfasten

Cite this Entry

“Unfasten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfasten. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

unfasten

verb
un·​fas·​ten ˌən-ˈfas-ᵊn How to pronounce unfasten (audio)
: to make loose: as
b
: undo sense 1
unfasten a button
c
: detach
unfasten the boat from its moorings

More from Merriam-Webster on unfasten

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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