Standard Lemma guide

uncouple

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.

  • /ʌnˈkʌpəl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ʌpəl
  • CMU ARPABET: AH0 N K AH1 P AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To disconnect or detach one thing from another.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • We uncoupled the trailer and left it behind.
  • The railway workers uncoupled the cars near the tail end of the train.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: decouple, unpair, dispair

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: separate, disassociate, disjoin, disunite, split up, break up, break apart, take apart

2

verb

Meaning 2

To come loose.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To loose, as dogs, from their couples.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

disconnect or separate

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • uncouple the hounds

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: decouple

Antonyms: couple

Broader terms: disconnect

History

Etymology

From Middle English uncouple; equivalent to un- + couple.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: разединявам (razedinjavam) — to disconnect or detach
  • German: abhängen — to disconnect or detach
  • German: abkuppeln — to disconnect or detach
  • German: loslösen — to disconnect or detach
  • Ukrainian: розчіпляти (rozčipljaty) — to disconnect or detach
  • Ukrainian: роз'єднувати (rozʺjednuvaty) — to disconnect or detach