untie

American  

[uhn-tahy] / ʌnˈtaɪ /

verb (used with object)

untied, untying

1. to loose or unfasten (anything tied); let or set loose by undoing a knot.

2. to undo the string or cords of.

3. to undo, as a cord or a knot; unknot.

4. to free from restraint.

5. to resolve, as perplexities.

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verb (used without object)

untied, untying

1. to become untied.

untie British  

/ ʌnˈtaɪ /

verb

1. to unfasten or free (a knot or something that is tied) or (of a knot or something that is tied) to become unfastened

2. (tr) to free from constraint or restriction

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Etymology

Origin of untie

before 1000; Middle English untyen, Old English untīegan. See un- ², tie

Example Sentences

Grandaddy, unbeaten and untied and still heavyweight champion of the college football world.

From Los Angeles Times

As a gesture of true camaraderie, they grin and untie their own blue pañuelos and tie these kerchiefs around our necks.

From Salon

Acquaintances swore they saw him untie his shoelaces before meeting with a potential donor.

From Los Angeles Times

The robot untied the bow and tore off the paper and lifted the lid from the box.

From Literature

TSA has often been a crapshoot, risking pileups as travelers pulled laptops from carry-ons and novice vacationers struggled to untie their sneakers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• disentangle
• loosen
• untangle