unravel
verb (used with object)
to separate or disentangle the threads of (a woven or knitted fabric, a rope, etc.).
has been unravelling
-
present perfect progressiveof unravel (3rd person singular).present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
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.
A 2022 peace deal to end a brutal civil war in Tigray has been unravelling as tensions grow over disputed territory and ahead of June's elections.
From BBC ● Jan. 29, 2026
Confidence has been unravelling at a rate of knots since that third-placed finish at the 2014 World Cup.
From The Guardian ● Sep. 7, 2015
Self, however, has been unravelling for some time.
From The Guardian ● May 27, 2010
Step by step science has been unravelling the tangle, and has loosened with its human fingers the knots that once seemed deo digni vindice.
From Is Life Worth Living? by W. H. (William Hurrell) Mallock
