unlocked
Britishadjective
Explanation
Something that's unlocked isn't latched or secured. You can open an unlocked door and walk right through it. If your front door isn't locked, it's unlocked. Unless you lock it with a key or turn a bolt in the latch, it's going to stay unlocked. A more modern version of this adjective is used for mobile phones, and it means "able to operate on any carrier's network," rather than one specific network. So your unlocked smart phone will work with whichever phone company you choose.
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.
The Titans are coming off their first win, although it’s not as if their offense has been unlocked — they’re 31st in scoring.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026
A huge cheer erupted as a senior teacher unlocked the hulking front door and poked her head out into the street.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
Becerra finally unlocked the inner cholo so many of us have been waiting to see, instead of the Chicano Ned Flanders he’s been projecting for decades.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
Yaniv Hayun, a passenger, said in a video shared by Israel’s public broadcaster that he and another man found the door was unlocked but blocked by the fallen pilot, so they shoved it open.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
“Some things. It was almost like seeing her unlocked this place in my brain where she'd been stored away. Glimpses. A smile. A strange laugh. But I don't know if I want to remember her.”
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
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