Standard Lemma guide

unglue

verb · 2 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.

  • CMU ARPABET: AH0 N G L UW1 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

to separate that which was held by glue

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • we had to use warm water and solvent to unglue all the joints we put in yesterday.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

to cease to adhere to or follow attentively

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • parents are looking for new ways to unglue their children from their screens

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English glue English unglue From un- + glue.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: ablösen — To separate that which was held by glue
  • Ukrainian: відкле́ювати (vidkléjuvaty) — To separate that which was held by glue
  • Ukrainian: відкле́їти (vidkléjity) — To separate that which was held by glue
  • German: losreißen — To cease to follow attentively