unload

American  

[uhn-lohd] / ʌnˈloʊd /

verb (used with object)

1. to take the load from; remove the cargo or freight from.

   to unload a truck; to unload a cart.

2. to remove or discharge (a load, group of people, etc.).

   to unload passengers.

3. to remove the charge from (a firearm).

4. to relieve of anything burdensome, oppressive, etc..

   He unloaded his responsibilities.

5. to get rid of (goods, shares of stock, etc.) by sale in large quantities.

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verb (used without object)

1. to unload something.

2. Informal. to relieve one's stress by talking, confessing, or the like.

unload British  

/ ʌnˈləʊd /

verb

1. to remove a load or cargo from (a ship, lorry, etc)

2. to discharge (cargo, freight, etc)

3. (tr) to relieve of a burden or troubles

4. (tr) to give vent to (anxiety, troubles, etc)

5. (tr) to get rid of or dispose of (esp surplus goods)

6. (tr) to remove the charge of ammunition from (a firearm)

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Other Word Forms

• self-unloading
  adjective
• unloader
  noun

Etymology

Origin of unload

First recorded in 1515–25; un- ² + load

Explanation

To unload is to remove cargo from a vehicle or shipping carton. Unload can also mean to discharge or get rid of something, or to get something off your chest. A clothing store might unload (remove) a hundred cartons from the delivery truck, and then unload (unpack) shirts and pants from the cartons. If a carton of clothes is imperfect, the store might send them back or unload (dispossess themselves of) them by selling them cheaply to a factory-seconds outlet. Then the store manager, depending on her mood, might unload on (give a tongue-lashing to) the manufacturer for shipping shoddy products.

Example Sentences

This forced buying could create the demand early investors need to unload shares, facilitating an enormous wealth transfer from private markets to public markets.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

Sure, it’s easier to load and unload the dishwasher and put away the laundry yourself, but we miss the opportunity if we don’t bring the next generation into the labor.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

For a start, the Chinese-made robots will be deployed to load and unload cargo containers, JAL and GMO AI & Robotics, its partner in the project, said in a demonstration to the media on Monday.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

Just across the road from the site of the first international conference on transitioning away from fossil fuels, in Colombia, oil tankers routinely unload at the Pozos Colorados terminal, with its large tank farm.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026

Fortunately, they were able to unload the cargo, carry it, and run the canoes empty down the river without a problem.

From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple

Related Words

• clear out
• discharge
• disgorge
• dump
• get rid of
• jettison
• off-load
• remove
• unpack