Standard Lemma guide

undo

adj · noun · verb · 11 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.

  • UK, US: /ʌnˈduː/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -uː
  • homophone: undue (yod-dropping)
  • CMU ARPABET: AH0 N D UW1 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Misspelling of undue.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, misspelling, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An operation that reverses a previous action.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

Examples

  • How many undos does this program support?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To reverse the effects of an action.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Fortunately, we can undo most of the damage to the system by the war.
  • What's done can't be undone.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To unfasten.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Could you undo my buckle for me?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To unfasten the clothing of (a person).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: colloquial, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To impoverish or ruin, as in reputation; to cause the downfall of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

remove the outer cover or wrapping of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Let's unwrap the gifts!
  • undo the parcel

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: unwrap

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: uncover, expose

8

verb

Meaning 8

cause to become loose

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • undo the shoelace
  • untie the knot
  • loosen the necktie

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: untie, loosen

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

9

verb

Meaning 9

cancel, annul, or reverse an action or its effect

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • I wish I could undo my actions

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change by reversal, turn, reverse

Narrower terms: untie, unbrace, unlace, unstrap, unhitch, unpick, unfasten, unbelt, unstaple, unclip, unbutton, unpin, unplug, disconnect, unbraid, unravel, unknot, unscramble, untangle, unwind, disentangle, unbuckle, unfold, spread, spread out, open, unwire

10

verb

Meaning 10

deprive of certain characteristics

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: unmake

Antonyms: none provided

Narrower terms: destroy, destruct

11

verb

Meaning 11

cause the ruin or downfall of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • A single mistake undid the President and he had to resign

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: ruin

History

Etymology

From Middle English undōn, from Old English ondōn, from Proto-West Germanic *andadōn (“to undo”), equivalent to un- + do. Cognate with West Frisian ûndwaan, ûntdwaan (“to undo; rid”), Dutch ontdoen (“to undo”).

Across languages

Translations

110 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Hungarian: visszavonás — an operation that reverses a previous action
  • Hungarian: visszaállítás — an operation that reverses a previous action
  • Russian: отмена (otmena) — an operation that reverses a previous action
  • Russian: возврат (vozvrat) — an operation that reverses a previous action
  • Aragonese: desfer — to reverse
  • Aromanian: disfac — to reverse
  • Asturian: desfacer — to reverse
  • Bulgarian: отменям (otmenjam) — to reverse
  • Bulgarian: връщам обратно (vrǎštam obratno) — to reverse
  • Catalan: desfer — to reverse
  • Chinese Mandarin: 復原 /复原 (fùyuán) — to reverse
  • Chinese Mandarin: 重做 (chóngzuò) — to reverse
  • Czech: odčinit — to reverse
  • Czech: navrátit — to reverse
  • Dutch: ongedaan maken — to reverse
  • Dutch: tenietdoen — to reverse
  • Dutch: ontdoen — to reverse
  • Esperanto: malfari — to reverse
  • Finnish: kumota — to reverse
  • French: annuler — to reverse
  • French: défaire — to reverse
  • Galician: desfacer — to reverse
  • Georgian: გაუქმება (gaukmeba) — to reverse
  • Georgian: შებრუნება (šebruneba) — to reverse
  • Georgian: ანულირება (anulireba) — to reverse
  • Georgian: უკუქცევა (uḳukceva) — to reverse
  • German: rückgängig machen — to reverse
  • German: ungeschehen machen — to reverse
  • Hindi: उधेड़ना (udheṛnā) — to reverse
  • Hungarian: visszavon — to reverse
  • Hungarian: visszaállít — to reverse
  • Hungarian: helyreállít — to reverse
  • Hungarian: jóvátesz — to reverse
  • Hungarian: visszacsinál — to reverse
  • Hungarian: meg nem történtté tesz — to reverse
  • Italian: annullare — to reverse
  • Italian: disfare — to reverse
  • Japanese: 戻す (modosu) — to reverse
  • Japanese: 取り消す (torikesu) — to reverse
  • Latin: abrogo — to reverse
  • Latin: destruo — to reverse
  • Māori: whakakore — to reverse
  • Norwegian: rette opp — to reverse
  • Norwegian: angre — to reverse
  • Portuguese: desfazer — to reverse
  • Rapa Nui: kume — to reverse
  • Romanian: desface — to reverse
  • Russian: отменя́ть (otmenjátʹ) — to reverse
  • Russian: отмени́ть (otmenítʹ) — to reverse
  • Russian: возвраща́ть (vozvraščátʹ) — to reverse
  • Russian: верну́ть (vernútʹ) — to reverse
  • Scottish Gaelic: neo-dhèan — to reverse
  • Serbo-Croatian: opovrgnuti — to reverse
  • Serbo-Croatian: revertirati — to reverse
  • Sindhi: اڻڪرڻ (āṇkrṇ) — to reverse
  • Spanish: deshacer — to reverse
  • Spanish: desfacer — to reverse
  • Spanish: dirimir — to reverse
  • Swedish: ångra — to reverse
  • Turkish: geri almak — to reverse
  • Vietnamese: hoàn tác — to reverse
  • Welsh: dad-wneud — to reverse
  • Aromanian: disfac — to unfasten
  • Basque: askatu — to unfasten
  • Bulgarian: отварям (otvarjam) — to unfasten
  • Bulgarian: развързвам (razvǎrzvam) — to unfasten
  • Chinese Mandarin: 解開 /解开 (jiěkāi) — to unfasten
  • Dutch: losmaken — to unfasten
  • Faroese: loysa — to unfasten
  • Finnish: avata — to unfasten
  • Finnish: irrottaa — to unfasten
  • French: défaire — to unfasten
  • French: délier — to unfasten
  • Georgian: გახსნა (gaxsna) — to unfasten
  • Georgian: შეხსნა (šexsna) — to unfasten
  • German: aufmachen — to unfasten
  • German: öffnen — to unfasten
  • German: losmachen — to unfasten
  • German: lösen — to unfasten
  • German: abschnallen — to unfasten
  • Hungarian: kinyit — to unfasten
  • Hungarian: kigombol — to unfasten
  • Hungarian: kikapcsol — to unfasten
  • Hungarian: kiköt — to unfasten
  • Hungarian: kifűz — to unfasten
  • Hungarian: kibont — to unfasten
  • Hungarian: kicsatol — to unfasten
  • Hungarian: kiold — to unfasten
  • Irish: scaoil — to unfasten
  • Italian: slacciare — to unfasten
  • Japanese: はずす (hazusu) — to unfasten
  • Japanese: ほどく (hodoku) — to unfasten
  • Japanese: 解く (toku) — to unfasten
  • Māori: wete — to unfasten
  • Māori: wetewete — to unfasten
  • Māori: wewete — to unfasten
  • Māori: whakamatara — to unfasten
  • Māori: maheno — to unfasten
  • Norwegian: løsne — to unfasten
  • Portuguese: desatar — to unfasten
  • Romanian: desface — to unfasten
  • Russian: расстёгивать (rasstjógivatʹ) — to unfasten
  • Russian: расстегну́ть (rasstegnútʹ) — to unfasten
  • Russian: развя́зывать (razvjázyvatʹ) — to unfasten
  • Russian: развяза́ть (razvjazátʹ) — to unfasten
  • Scottish Gaelic: fuasgail — to unfasten
  • Serbo-Croatian: razvezati — to unfasten
  • Serbo-Croatian: raskopčati — to unfasten
  • Turkish: çözmek — to unfasten
  • Welsh: datod — to unfasten