unpack
verb (used with object)
to undo or remove the contents from (a box, trunk, etc.).
were unpacking
-
past progressiveof unpack.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Deeper into the building, Meest-America workers, dwarfed by towers of boxed donations, had stayed hours after their day shifts to join the volunteers who were unpacking, examining, sorting and repacking the material coming in.
From New York Times ● Mar. 11, 2022
By February 2011, four months after making the decision to move to Orcas, they were unpacking boxes at their newly purchased, 5-acre “farmette.”
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 31, 2021
Said Jenkins of Whyte’s involvement, “I didn’t want these images, even as we were unpacking them, to unpack us.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 14, 2021
Once, Jay and I left Jithu in his car seat for a few seconds when we were unpacking shopping and a relative saw this and accused me of trying to harm my son.
From BBC ● May 15, 2019
They were unpacking long, slim pieces of wood that folded and unfolded in strange ways, and when they put them together, they formed a strong sledge.
From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo
