Synonyms

unlace

American

[uhn-leys] / ʌnˈleɪs /

verb (used with object)

to loosen or undo the lacing or laces of (a pair of shoes, a corset, etc.).
to loosen or remove the garments of (a person) by or as if by undoing laces.

unlace British

/ ʌnˈleɪs /

verb

to loosen or undo the lacing of (shoes, garments, etc)
to unfasten or remove garments of (oneself or another) by or as if by undoing lacing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of unlace

First recorded in 1300–50, unlace is from the Middle English word unlacen. See un- ², lace

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.

Taking your shoes on and off again 一 especially if you go outside often in shoes that take a while to unlace 一 can be a real headache.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 30, 2023

When the door finally opened two hours later, she must have seen it on his face, because she didn’t even unlace her shoes.

From Slate • Sep. 24, 2022

He leaned forward to unlace his sneakers and take a drink.

From Washington Post • Dec. 8, 2017

For others, such as cornerback Casey Hayward, it doesn’t require much thought — just unlace and do what you’re told.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2017

Elodin crouched down and began to unlace his shoes.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023