Standard Lemma guide

unchain

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ʌnˈt͡ʃeɪn/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪn

1

verb

Meaning 1

To remove chains from someone or something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • unchain workers
  • They worked to unchain the prisoners from their shackles.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To free; to liberate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, transitive

Examples

  • unchain the mind
  • unchain creativity
  • The reform movement sought to unchain society from old prejudices.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

make free

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: free, liberate, release, unloose, unloosen, loose

4

verb

Meaning 4

remove the chains from

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: chain

Broader terms: unfasten

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h2ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h2éntsder. Proto-Germanic *anda- Proto-West Germanic *anda- Old English and- Old English on- Middle English on- English un- English chain English unchain From un- + chain.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Breton: dichadennañ — to remove chains from; to free; to liberate
  • Catalan: desencadenar — to remove chains from; to free; to liberate
  • Esperanto: elĉenigi — to remove chains from; to free; to liberate
  • Finnish: vapauttaa — to remove chains from; to free; to liberate
  • French: déchainer — to remove chains from; to free; to liberate
  • French: déchaîner — to remove chains from; to free; to liberate
  • French: libérer — to remove chains from; to free; to liberate
  • Galician: desencadear — to remove chains from; to free; to liberate
  • Ido: deskatenizar — to remove chains from; to free; to liberate
  • Portuguese: desencadear — to remove chains from; to free; to liberate
  • Romanian: dezlănțui — to remove chains from; to free; to liberate
  • Spanish: desencadenar — to remove chains from; to free; to liberate