Word
Definition
v. to undo a knot in a piece of string, rope, or a shoelace so that it is no longer fastened.
v. to undo or loosen a knot or something that is fastened with a knot. Transitive — requires a direct object.
Examples
“I need to untie my shoelaces before taking off my shoes.”
“The sailor had to untie the thick rope from the dock before the boat could depart.”
“After struggling for several minutes with the frozen cord, he finally managed to untie the bundle and reveal the contents hidden inside.”
Examples
simple
“I need to untie my shoelaces before taking off my shoes.”
contextual
“The sailor had to untie the thick rope from the dock before the boat could depart.”
complex
“After struggling for several minutes with the frozen cord, he finally managed to untie the bundle and reveal the contents hidden inside.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “untie” in context.
Verb
01. untie knot
“Can you help me untie this knot in my shoelace?”
verb + noun
02. untie rope
“He tried to untie the rope with both hands.”
verb + noun
03. untie shoe
“Please untie your shoes before entering the house.”
verb + noun
04. untie shoelace
“She sat down to untie her shoelace.”
verb + noun
05. untie string
“He had to untie the string around the box.”
verb + noun
Noun
06. untie from post
“He untied the horse from the post and led it away.”
verb + prep + noun
07. untie from tree
“They untied the dog from the tree and walked home.”
verb + prep + noun
08. try to untie the knot
“He tried to untie the knot with his fingers.”
09. untie a shoelace
“She stopped to untie a shoelace that was too tight.”
10. untie the knot
“I pulled hard but I could not untie the knot.”
11. untie your shoes
“Please sit down and untie your shoes before you come in.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.
Etymology
From the Old English untīġan, the term passed into Middle English as untien, unteyen, untyȝen, and untiȝen. It remains a compound of the prefix un- and the verb tie.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/untie
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0