undo
- 01 B1 Intermediate
v.to cancel the effect of something that was done before.
v.to reverse the effects or consequences of a previous action or decision.
Simple“It is difficult to undo the damage caused by a bad reputation.”
In context“The new administration sought to undo several of the previous government's most controversial environmental policies within its first hundred days.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
v.to open something that is tied, buttoned, or zipped.
v.to unfasten, untie, or loosen a physical connection or closure.
Simple“He had to undo his seatbelt before he could get out of the car.”
In context“She struggled to undo the intricate silk knots on the parcel without tearing the delicate decorative paper.”
PitfallI need to unfasten my shoes. I need to undo my shoelaces.While 'unfasten' is correct, 'undo' is the more natural choice for shoelaces, buttons, and knots.
- 03 C1 Advanced
v.to cause someone to fail or lose their reputation.
v.to bring to ruin or destruction; to cause the downfall of a person or entity.
Simple“His greed would eventually undo him and his entire family.”
In context“It was ultimately his stubborn refusal to listen to his advisors that would undo his long and otherwise successful career in diplomacy.”
- 04 B1 Intermediate
n.a button or command that cancels the last thing you did on a computer.
n.a function within a software application that reverses the most recent operation and restores the document to its previous state.
Simple“If you make a mistake while typing, just click undo.”
In context“The application supports multiple levels of undo, allowing the designer to revert through several hours of incremental changes if necessary.”
From Middle English undōn, from Old English ondōn, from Proto-West Germanic *andadōn (“to undo”), equivalent to un- + do. Cognate with West Frisian ûndwaan, ûntdwaan (“to undo; rid”), Dutch ontdoen (“to undo”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.