Standard Lemma guide

unscrew

verb · 3 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

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To loosen a screw or thing by turning it.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • I'm having some trouble unscrewing the lid of this jar.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

loosen something by unscrewing it

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • unscrew the outlet plate

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: loosen, loose

3

verb

Meaning 3

loosen by turning

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • unscrew the bottle cap

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: screw

Broader terms: loosen, loose

History

Etymology

From un- + screw.

Across languages

Translations

25 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: отвивам (otvivam) — loosen a screw etc.
  • Bulgarian: развинтвам (razvintvam) — loosen a screw etc.
  • Chinese Mandarin: 旋開 /旋开 (xuánkāi) — loosen a screw etc.
  • Chinese Mandarin: 旋鬆 /旋松 (xuánsōng) — loosen a screw etc.
  • Danish: skrue ud — loosen a screw etc.
  • Finnish: ruuvata auki — loosen a screw etc.
  • Finnish: kiertää auki — loosen a screw etc.
  • French: dévisser — loosen a screw etc.
  • Galician: desaparafusar — loosen a screw etc.
  • German: abschrauben — loosen a screw etc.
  • German: losschrauben — loosen a screw etc.
  • Greek: ξεβιδώνω (xevidóno) — loosen a screw etc.
  • Hungarian: kicsavar — loosen a screw etc.
  • Ido: desskrubagar — loosen a screw etc.
  • Ido: desvisar — loosen a screw etc.
  • Italian: svitare — loosen a screw etc.
  • Mongolian: эрэг сулрах (ereg sulrax) — loosen a screw etc.
  • Norwegian Bokmål: skru ut — loosen a screw etc.
  • Polish: odkręcać — loosen a screw etc.
  • Portuguese: desaparafusar — loosen a screw etc.
  • Portuguese: desparafusar — loosen a screw etc.
  • Romanian: deșuruba — loosen a screw etc.
  • Spanish: desatornillar — loosen a screw etc.
  • Spanish: destornillar — loosen a screw etc.
  • Spanish: desenroscar — loosen a screw etc.