unscrew
Americanverb (used with object)
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unscrews,
present (3rd person singular)
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unscrewed,
past participle, past
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unscrewing
present participle
verb (used without object)
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unscrews,
present (3rd person singular)
-
unscrewed,
past participle, past
-
unscrewing
present participle
verb
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(tr) to draw or remove a screw from (an object)
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(tr) to loosen (a screw, lid, etc) by rotating continuously, usually in an anticlockwise direction
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(intr) (esp of an engaged threaded part) to become loosened or separated
the lid wouldn't unscrew
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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unscrewsimple
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unscrewssimple
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have unscrewedperfect
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has unscrewedperfect
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am unscrewingprogressive
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are unscrewingprogressive
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is unscrewingprogressive
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have been unscrewingperfect progressive
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has been unscrewingperfect progressive
Past
-
unscrewedsimple
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had unscrewedperfect
-
was unscrewingprogressive
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were unscrewingprogressive
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had been unscrewingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of unscrew
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
They can navigate mazes, use tools and unscrew jars — sometimes from the inside out.
From Salon ● May 12, 2025
Take a moment and unscrew the lids of the cumin and chili powder jars, sniff, and see what moves you.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 26, 2023
It took the man just a few seconds to unscrew a steel plug, smaller than a coffee mug.
From BBC ● May 23, 2023
One recent sunny day, Skoda clambered up a ladder to unscrew the blue and yellow Miri’s at Golden Gardens surfboard affixed to the south side of the building.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 19, 2023
“We put the cover on, but I’m supposed to unscrew the casket so you can see her.”
From "The Stranger" by Albert Camus
On a recent visit, a technician unscrews one of the jars, empties the formaldehyde and rinses the krill under running water, a dozen fitting in the palm of his hand.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 13, 2023
After 10 minutes of intermittent whirring, Wesley lays down the device and unscrews the top of a closed Petri dish connected to the machine with a rubber tube.
From The Verge ● Jul. 8, 2014
The top corks tightly to keep water fresh and cold, and the bottom unscrews for easier cleaning.
From Inc ● Oct. 29, 2012
“It unscrews and all the pieces nest, so they stack,” Elizabeth Thompson, the institute’s executive director, said.
From New York Times ● Nov. 17, 2011
He unscrews the cap of a small bottle and holds out a dropper filled with clear liquid.
From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth
Crews also have been installing locked steel covers over bolts so they cannot be unscrewed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2024
The shaft that controlled the tail rotor then unscrewed and became detached as a result, which in turn caused the helicopter to spin out of the pilot's control.
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2023
"The plunger needs to be unscrewed and disassembled to get all the oils and coffee grounds out," he says.
From Salon ● Apr. 1, 2023
Susannah unscrewed the lid of a doll’s pink plastic sippy cup and held the cup out to Mr. Rosen.
From New York Times ● Dec. 19, 2022
Now, in the early morning privacy of the bathroom, Matilda unscrewed the cap of her father's oil of violets and tipped three-quarters of the contents down the drain.
From "Matilda" by Roald Dahl
“Something within the cylinder was unscrewing the top!”
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 15, 2023
The Czech government announced on Thursday it was unscrewing half of lightbulbs at the government office and swapping remaining old bulbs for less-consuming LED sources.
From Reuters ● Sep. 22, 2022
On newsreels after that date you can see royals experimenting with different forms of waving, including the Queen as a girl trying out the type of rotating wave that looks like unscrewing an light bulb.
From BBC ● May 31, 2022
Getting to the SSD is a tricky business, involving removing the rubber ring on the bottom of the device, unscrewing the panel, and pulling out the unshielded power supply.
From The Verge ● Mar. 21, 2022
“And you just like bought a ticket and—” He interrupted again while unscrewing the cap.
From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
