What does "unlock" mean?
The act of unlocking something.
Unlock
/ʌnˈlɑk/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of unlocking something.
- Grammar: unlock is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: account for, actualized, allegorize, allow.
- Useful contrasts: blocked state, fixed voice settings, secluded.
- Usage evidence: Give me a key, and I will unlock the universe.
How to use "unlock"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "unlock" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "unlock" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "unlock" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "unlock" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "unlock" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "account for" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "unlock", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of unlocking something.
"Unlike modern, automated prisons, each cell here was locked and unlocked manually with a large skeleton key. The first duty was to get a proper head count of each inmate, insuring each was alive. Once done, an unlock was conducted."
- 2 An initially hidden feature that is made available to reward the player for some achievement.
"The other unlocks, like a grenade launcher or a sniper's steady ability, didn't fit into my playstyle."
Verb
- 1 To undo or open a lock or something locked by, for example, turning a key, or selecting a combination. transitive
"I unlocked the door and walked in."
- 2 become unlocked wordnet
- 3 To obtain access to something; to meet the requirements of a security or protection system. transitive
"I unlocked the dictionary article so I could edit it."
- 4 open the lock of wordnet
- 5 To configure (a mobile phone) so that it is not bound to any particular carrier. transitive
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 set free or release wordnet
- 7 To disclose or reveal previously unknown knowledge or potential. transitive
"The discovery of a clue unlocked the mystery."
- 8 To be or become unfastened or unrestrained. intransitive
"He had come straight up without mishap or swerving off his course, and his shut teeth unlocked."
- 9 To make available. figuratively, transitive
"He also warned of the supply chain issues, stating: "Don't pretend you're going to unlock half a dozen [electrification] schemes simultaneously because you'll probably flood the supply chain, we don't have the capacity.""
- 10 To undermine something that has control over a situation; to find a way to counter or oppose. transitive
"Saka's cross unlocked a well-organised Ukraine defence for Kane to pounce and set England on their way before producing a superb piece of individual skill to effectively end the contest."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Give me a key, and I will unlock the universe."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "unlock"?
Common synonyms include: account for, actualized, allegorize, allow, answer, bare.
How do you use "unlock" in a sentence?
Give me a key, and I will unlock the universe.
How do you pronounce "unlock"?
Pronounced /ʌnˈlɑk/.
Etymology
From Middle English unloken, unlouken, onlouken, from Old English onlūcan (“to unlock”), equivalent to un- + lock. Cognate with Dutch ontluiken (“to unlock”).