# unravel

/ənˈɹævəɫ/ (US) · /ʌnɹˈævəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unravel
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to untangle threads

verb · CEFR B2

to separate threads that are twisted together or to undo something that is knitted.

For teachers: to disentangle or separate the threads of a woven, knitted, or tangled fabric.

- The cat played with the yarn until it started to unravel across the floor.
- She carefully began to unravel the old sweater, hoping to salvage the high-quality wool for a new project.

Usage: Can be used transitively with an object or intransitively when the fabric itself comes apart.

## Examples

- The edges of the old blanket began to unravel.
- The detective spent months trying to unravel the mystery of the missing documents.
- As the central bank raised interest rates unexpectedly, the carefully constructed economic recovery began to unravel, leading to widespread market panic.

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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.