unbutton

American  

[uhn-buht-n] / ʌnˈbʌt n /

verb (used with object)

1. to free (buttons) from buttonholes; unfasten or undo.

2. to unfasten by or as if by unbuttoning.

   to unbutton a jacket.

3. to disclose (one's feelings, thoughts, etc.) after deliberate or prolonged silence.

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verb (used without object)

1. to unfasten a button or one's buttons.

unbutton British  

/ ʌnˈbʌtən /

verb

1. to undo by unfastening (the buttons) of (a garment)

2. informal to release or relax (oneself, tension, etc)

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Etymology

Origin of unbutton

First recorded in 1275–1325, unbutton is from the Middle English word unbotenen. See un- ², button

Explanation

When you unbutton something, you unfasten or open it, the way you unbutton your coat before you take it off. To undo the buttons on a piece of clothing is to unbutton it. If your formal clothes feel uncomfortable, you might take off your tie and unbutton your top shirt button. You can also figuratively unbutton, by becoming more relaxed and uninhibited: "Kick off your shoes and unbutton a little — we're at the beach!" Unbutton comes from adding un-, "opposite of," to the verb button, "fasten with buttons."

Example Sentences

As things get hot the temptation is to ditch the layers, get out the shorts and unbutton the flowery shirt.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

The best tips were about using words first: “I need to unbutton your gown because I’m going to be scanning your chest, but I’ll keep you covered with this towel.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 7, 2026

Then McEnany laughed and asked her co-hosts for permission to unbutton what had become her too-tight blazer.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2025

The juror explained that whenever he would start a long cross-examination, he would unbutton his suit jacket.

From Slate • Jan. 26, 2024

Robin had already begun to unbutton her shoes.

From "Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep