Synonyms

unstick

American

[uhn-stik] / ʌnˈstɪk /

verb (used with object)

unstuck, unsticking

to free, as one thing stuck to another.

verb (used without object)

unstuck, unsticking

to become unstuck.

Finally, the car's horn unstuck.

unstick British

/ ʌnˈstɪk /

verb

(tr) to free or loosen (something stuck)

"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

Etymology

Origin of unstick

First recorded in 1700–10; un- ² + stick ²

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 fans, equally, are basically stuck sometimes, and I guess it's our job to subtly, not forcefully, unstick them,” he said.

From Salon • Jan. 24, 2025

"We - our team and the United States administration - came to Beijing in order to unstick what has been stuck since almost last August," Kerry told reporters late on Wednesday.

From Reuters • Jul. 19, 2023

Meanwhile, executives realize that if they don’t persuade their employees to come back now, with pandemic restrictions eased in most areas, the new norms of flexible work will be hard to unstick.

From New York Times • Aug. 28, 2022

Meanwhile, executives realize that if they don’t persuade their employees to come back now, the new norms of flexible work will be hard to unstick.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 28, 2022

I made the mistake of glancing up at the sky, just for a moment, and now I can’t unstick my eyes.

From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

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