# unload

/ənˈɫoʊd/ (US) · /ʌnlˈəʊd/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unload
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

to take things off a vehicle or out of a container. You can also use it to talk about sharing your heavy feelings with someone.

For teachers: to remove goods or cargo from a vehicle, ship, or container; metaphorically, to release or express suppressed emotions or information.

## Examples

- We need to unload the groceries from the car.
- After a long day at work, she needed to unload her frustrations to a friend over coffee.
- The dockworkers spent the entire night shift attempting to unload the massive freighter before the storm surge made the harbor too dangerous for operations.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and takes a direct object; in its emotional sense, it often takes the preposition 'on' or 'to' followed by a person.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.