unspool

American  

[uhn-spool] / ʌnˈspul /

verb

1. to unwind from a spool, as of wire, tape, film, etc.

2. to unravel; destroy or be destroyed steadily or gradually.

3. to perform (an action or movement) or be performed in a smooth, swift, graceful way, as if unrolling from a spool.

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Explanation

To unspool is to unwind something that's coiled around a cylinder. If your cat unspools your thread, it'll be impossible to get it all untangled and wound back up. Anything that's wound around into a spool or coil, can be unspooled. You might unspool the garden hose to fill up a backyard kiddie pool, or unspool the enormous amount of spaghetti from your fork and start over. Figuratively, something that's gracefully or smoothly rolled out is also unspooled: "Grandma loves to unspool a real nail-biter of a story after dinner."

Example Sentences

Consider it a thought exercise to explore how the global economic damage might unspool.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

Far-reaching change will now unspool not just in Iran, but in the Middle East and across the world.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

No higher-ups knew about the operation before watching it unspool in real time, two of the former officials said.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2025

In “Presence,” we’re rarely allowed to forget that we are an interloper in the lives of a family as they slowly unspool.

From Salon • Jan. 24, 2025

At first, the chaplain thought the young man was still caught in disbelief, still holding on to foolish hope that time could unspool and the body beside him could still be revived.

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix