Standard Lemma guide

unfasten

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.

  • US: /ʌnˈfɑːs(ə)n/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To detach from any connecting agency or link; to disconnect.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To come unloosed or untied.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

become undone or untied

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The shoelaces unfastened

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: fasten

Broader terms: open, open up

4

verb

Meaning 4

cause to become undone

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • unfasten your belt

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: fasten

Broader terms: undo

Narrower terms: unchain, unzip, unbend

History

Etymology

From un- + fasten.

Across languages

Translations

34 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: откачам (otkačam) — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • Bulgarian: отвързвам (otvǎrzvam) — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • Chinese Mandarin: 解開 /解开 (jiěkāi) — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • Dutch: losmaken — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • Finnish: irrottaa — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • French: défaire — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • German: abschnallen — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • German: lösen — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • German: losmachen — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • Greek: λύνω (lýno) — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • Greek: χαλαρώνω (chalaróno) — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • Greek: ξεκουμπώνω (unbutton) — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • Greek: ξεδένω (xedéno) — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • Ancient Greek: λύω (lúō) — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • Irish: scaoil — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • Japanese: はずす (hazusu) — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • Japanese: ほどく (hodoku) — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • Japanese: 解く (toku) — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • Russian: развя́зывать (razvjázyvatʹ) — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • Russian: развяза́ть (razvjazátʹ) — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • Russian: расстёгивать (rasstjógivatʹ) — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • Russian: расстегну́ть (rasstegnútʹ) — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • Spanish: desabrochar — to detach from any connecting agency or link — see also disconnect
  • Bulgarian: пткачам се (ptkačam se) — to come unloosed or untied
  • Bulgarian: развързвам се (razvǎrzvam se) — to come unloosed or untied
  • Dutch: loskomen — to come unloosed or untied
  • Finnish: irrota — to come unloosed or untied
  • Italian: sciogliere — to come unloosed or untied
  • Italian: svergare — to come unloosed or untied
  • Russian: развя́зываться (razvjázyvatʹsja) — to come unloosed or untied
  • Russian: развяза́ться (razvjazátʹsja) — to come unloosed or untied
  • Russian: расстёгиваться (rasstjógivatʹsja) — to come unloosed or untied
  • Russian: расстегну́ться (rasstegnútʹsja) — to come unloosed or untied
  • Welsh: dod yn rhydd — to come unloosed or untied