unblock
Americanverb (used with object)
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unblocks,
present (3rd person singular)
-
unblocked,
past participle, past
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unblocking
present participle
-
to remove a block or obstruction from.
to unblock a channel; to unblock a person's credit.
-
Bridge. to play (a suit) so that the last card of the suit in one hand can provide access to the hand of the partnership having the longer holding in the suit.
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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unblocksimple
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unblockssimple
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have unblockedperfect
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has unblockedperfect
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am unblockingprogressive
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are unblockingprogressive
-
is unblockingprogressive
-
have been unblockingperfect progressive
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has been unblockingperfect progressive
Past
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unblockedsimple
-
had unblockedperfect
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was unblockingprogressive
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were unblockingprogressive
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had been unblockingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of unblock
Explanation
If you unblock something, you free it or clear it of anything that's in its way. A plumber's frequent task is to unblock pipes so water can move through them. You can unblock your stuffed-up nose by blowing into a tissue, or unblock the driveway by moving your bike into the garage. Cardiologists, or heart doctors, often need to operate on patients in order to unblock their clogged arteries, so blood can flow freely. Unblock comes from adding the "reversal" prefix un- to the verb block, "obstruct or hinder passage."
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:
Housebuilding has fallen in London in recent years, but Pennycook insisted the "call in" powers had helped the mayor "unblock strategic growth sites" in the capital.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026
Tehran’s priority is to unblock an initial $24 billion in phases.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026
Lastly, Monday’s gains came on hopes that the U.S. would soon be able to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, the key shipping corridor that Asia relies on for most of its oil.
From Barron's ● May 4, 2026
I can’t access them again until I return to my office and re-tap the pass to unblock them.
From Slate ● Apr. 26, 2026
They have gone down to unblock the mouth of the cave outside, and make a feint of entering.
From Gaut Gurley by D. P. Thompson
Surfshark consistently unblocks Netflix libraries worldwide, along with Disney+, HBO Max, and BBC iPlayer.
From Salon ● Feb. 11, 2026
“Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it,” the account posted.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 16, 2025
The government believes the deal doesn’t endanger national interests or identity and unblocks the path for the country to join the EU.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 14, 2022
No strategy reliably unblocks your memory, but research shows you might mitigate the social damage.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 20, 2021
The therapy unblocks him, like a plunger inside a backed-up sink.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 24, 2020
The unblocked billions would help revive Hungary's ailing economy, he added.
From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2026
In my testing, it unblocked everything I threw at it.
From Salon ● Mar. 27, 2026
When she was later unblocked, a union representative said it could happen again if she continued making those kinds of comments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2025
It hit Jim Harbaugh like an unblocked rusher coming around the edge.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2024
Harry couldn’t help noticing that the statue of the one-eyed witch on the third floor remained unguarded and unblocked.
From "Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling
A key sticking point is the unblocking of the Strait of Hormuz, a route for a significant amount of the world’s oil and gas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 25, 2026
Unlike some VPNs that require specialized streaming servers, Surfshark’s general server network handles unblocking duties well.
From Salon ● Dec. 10, 2025
Rayner said building more homes and infrastructure meant "unblocking the clogged-up planning system that serves as a chokehold on growth".
From BBC ● Dec. 7, 2024
“Like acupuncture, which uses fine needles, Bojin is a method of unblocking stuck qi using a pointed tool made of stone or horn.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2024
And he had no intention of unblocking it.
From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
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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.
