unlace
Americanverb (used with object)
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to loosen or undo the lacing or laces of (a pair of shoes, a corset, etc.).
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to loosen or remove the garments of (a person) by or as if by undoing laces.
verb
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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
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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unlacesimple
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unlacessimple
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have unlacedperfect
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has unlacedperfect
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am unlacingprogressive
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are unlacingprogressive
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is unlacingprogressive
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have been unlacingperfect progressive
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has been unlacingperfect progressive
Past
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unlacedsimple
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had unlacedperfect
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was unlacingprogressive
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were unlacingprogressive
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had been unlacingperfect progressive
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.
See Examples For:
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
He stood back and let her unlace the flap of the tent.
From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman
As he thinks back, Toure unlaces a pair of bright red cleats.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 11, 2021
He unlaces each of my boots and sets them beside the chair, Ming over the holes in my socks.
From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline
He unlaces his boots and folds his trousers in the dark and sets the tin of biscuits on top.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
She unlaces the bag and lays the little one on the warm grass.
From Two Indian Children of Long Ago by Taylor, Frances
The squire relieves Erec of his helmet, unlaces the mouth-piece from before his face; then he spreads out the cloth before them on the thick tuff.
From Four Arthurian Romances by Comfort, William Wistar
When the feds roll up to her boxy corner house in a leafy suburb, Winner is outside in cutoff jean shorts, a white button-down shirt, and unlaced yellow Converse.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2023
He wears a dirty coat and unlaced shoes.
From Slate ● Mar. 13, 2021
He sat down, unlaced his boots, and took them off.
From New York Times ● Oct. 29, 2018
By the time we were given back our belongings – unlaced shoes, notebooks, phones – we’d become momentary media celebrities.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 17, 2017
He sat on his stool and unlaced the pair of shoes I was wearing.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
He didn’t even wait to come off the field before unlacing his cleats, lowering his socks and removing his shin guards.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 20, 2023
After reluctantly unlacing his military boots, taking off his army issue pants and T-shirt and leaving his guns and ammo belt, he looked at the knapsack.
From New York Times ● Feb. 28, 2022
To see Griff quiver with unspent energy after a match, two younger boys unlacing his gloves like retainers, it was hard to imagine how the giant could lose.
From The New Yorker ● Mar. 25, 2019
Toward the end of our post-practice conversation, Durant leaned over and started unlacing his shoes.
From New York Times ● Nov. 8, 2012
That night as Ash was unlacing Clara from her corset and helping her prepare for bed, Ash offered, “You don't have to do as they say, you know.”
From "Ash" by Malinda Lo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
