unpack
gb/ʌnpˈæk/ us/ʌnpˈæk/
B1
English
kipakol, kicsomagol, kibont, kitömörít, kifejt, elemez, destrukturál
VERB
B1
1
kipakol
A2
kicsomagol
A2
Usage pattern:
unpack [your bags/a suitcase/a box] (in/at [place])
We got home late, so I didn’t unpack my suitcase until the next morning.
Későn értünk haza, ezért csak másnap reggel pakoltam ki a bőröndömet.
After the move, it took us a week to unpack all the boxes.
A költözés után egy hétbe telt, mire kipakoltuk az összes dobozt.
Do you want to unpack now, or go out for dinner first?
Learner examples
I unpacked my bag when I arrived.
Amikor megérkeztem, kipakoltam a táskámat.
She is unpacking her suitcase.
Éppen a bőröndjét pakolja ki.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes add an extra particle (e.g., *unpack up*), but standard English is just unpack.
Meaning
take things out after travel
Collocations
unpack your bags
|unpack a suitcase
|unpack your case
|unpack the car
|unpack boxes
|unpack your belongings
|finish unpacking
|start unpacking
|unpack after the trip
|unpack at the hotel
Synonyms
empty (Focuses on removing everything from a container.)
|
take out (More general; not specific to luggage or moving.)
|
unload (Often used for vehicles rather than suitcases.)
Antonyms
pack (Put things into bags/boxes for travel or storage.)
|
box up (Pack items into boxes, often for moving.)
Themes
daily_life
|travel
|home
Definition
To take your clothes and other things out of your bag or suitcase.
To take your belongings out of a suitcase, bag, or box after bringing them somewhere, and often put them away.
VERB
B1
2
kicsomagol
A2
kibont
A2
Usage pattern:
unpack [something]
I unpacked the new blender and found a missing part.
Kicsomagoltam az új turmixgépet, és észrevettem, hogy hiányzik egy alkatrész.
Please unpack the shipment carefully so you don’t damage anything.
Kérlek, óvatosan csomagold ki a szállítmányt, nehogy bármi megsérüljön.
Let’s unpack the groceries before they thaw.
Learner examples
He unpacked the gift.
Kibontotta az ajándékot.
I unpacked the box carefully.
Óvatosan kibontottam a dobozt.
Common mistake:
In everyday tech/product contexts, English often says unbox; unpack is also correct but can sound slightly more general.
Meaning
remove something from packaging
Collocations
unpack a new phone
|unpack a laptop
|unpack the groceries
|unpack the delivery
|carefully unpack
|unpack and check
|unpack the equipment
|unpack the parts
Synonyms
unbox (Very common for taking a product out of its box, especially electronics.)
|
open (Less specific; may not imply removing the item.)
|
unwrap (Used when the item is wrapped rather than boxed.)
Antonyms
pack (Put something into a box or wrapping.)
|
wrap up (Cover something with wrapping material.)
Themes
shopping
|daily_life
Definition
To take a new thing out of its box or wrapper.
To remove a new item from its wrapping, box, or protective packaging.
VERB
B2
TECHNICAL
3
kicsomagol
B2
kitömörít
B2
Usage pattern:
unpack [a file/archive/package] (to/into [folder])
Download the file and unpack it into a new folder.
Töltsd le a fájlt, és csomagold ki egy új mappába.
The installer unpacks the program files automatically.
A telepítő automatikusan kicsomagolja a programfájlokat.
I couldn’t open the images until I unpacked the archive.
Learner examples
I unpacked the zip file.
Kicsomagoltam a ZIP-fájlt.
Please unpack the folder here.
Kérlek, ide csomagold ki a mappát.
Common mistake:
Unpack is often the same idea as unzip, but unzip is specific to .zip files.
Meaning
extract files from an archive
Collocations
unpack a zip file
|unpack an archive
|unpack a tarball
|unpack the installer
|unpack to a folder
|unpack the package
|unpack the downloaded file
|unpack the contents
Synonyms
extract (Common technical term; emphasizes taking files out.)
|
unzip (Common everyday term; specific to zip compression.)
|
decompress (Emphasizes reversing compression; more technical.)
Antonyms
compress (Make a file smaller by compressing it.)
|
zip (Create a zip archive from files.)
Themes
technology
|computing
Definition
To take files out of a compressed file so you can use them.
To extract the contents of a compressed file or software package so the files are usable.
VERB
B2
4
Usage pattern:
unpack [an idea/statement/situation]
Let’s unpack what she meant by that comment.
Nézzük meg részletesen, mire gondolt azzal a megjegyzéssel.
The therapist helped him unpack the patterns behind his stress.
A terapeuta segített neki feltárni a stressze mögött meghúzódó mintázatokat.
We need to unpack the assumptions in this argument before we decide.
Learner examples
Can you unpack that for me?
Ki tudnád ezt fejteni nekem?
The teacher unpacked the question.
A tanár részletesen elemezte a kérdést.
Common mistake:
Unpack here is figurative; it doesn’t mean opening a box.
Meaning
explain or analyze in detail
Collocations
unpack an idea
|unpack the meaning
|unpack what happened
|unpack a concept
|unpack the implications
|unpack a claim
|unpack the details
|unpack a problem
|unpack the reasons
Synonyms
analyze (More formal and academic; focuses on careful study.)
|
break down (More conversational; emphasizes dividing into smaller parts.)
|
unpick (Common in British English; suggests sorting out something complicated.)
Antonyms
gloss over (Avoid dealing with details.)
|
simplify (Reduce complexity rather than exploring it.)
Themes
communication
|education
|thinking
Definition
To talk about something in detail so it is easier to understand.
To examine something carefully and explain it step by step, especially an idea, statement, or situation.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
5
Usage pattern:
unpack [a list/tuple/object] (into [variables])
In Python, you can unpack a tuple into two variables in one line.
Pythonban egy tuple-t egyetlen sorban két változóba is ki lehet csomagolni.
The function unpacks the incoming JSON into named fields.
A függvény a bejövő JSON-t nevesített mezőkre bontja ki.
We unpacked the arguments so the code is easier to read.
Learner examples
You can unpack a tuple into variables.
Egy tuple elemeit változókba lehet kicsomagolni.
The code unpacks the list.
A kód változókra bontja ki a listát.
Common mistake:
This meaning is different from unpacking a zip file; it’s about splitting a data structure into parts in code.
Meaning
assign elements to variables (programming)
Collocations
unpack a tuple
|unpack a list
|unpack an array
|unpack into variables
|unpack values
|unpack arguments
|unpack a dictionary
|unpack the result
Synonyms
destructure (Common term in JavaScript; very close in meaning.)
|
assign (General programming verb; not specific to splitting a structure.)
Antonyms
pack (Combine multiple values into one structure.)
|
bundle (Put separate values together into one object or structure.)
Themes
technology
|programming
Definition
In programming, to put parts of one value into separate variables.
In programming, to take a structured value (such as an array, tuple, or object) and assign its elements or fields to separate variables.
Grammar
Dictionary form
unpack
IPA
GB/ʌnpˈæk/
US/ʌnpˈæk/
Syllables & stress
un - pack (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pack)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: unpack
- 3rd Person Singular: unpacks
- Present Participle: unpacking
- Past: unpacked
Expressions
let's unpack that
1/lˈɛts ʌnpˈæk ðˈæt/
fixed phrase
informal
discuss something in more detail
Let’s talk about it carefully and in detail.
Examples
- Let’s unpack that—what exactly are you worried will happen?
- You said it felt unfair; let’s unpack that for a minute.
- Before we decide, let’s unpack that assumption.
Learner examples
- Let’s unpack that.
- Let’s unpack that idea.
unpack and settle in
1/ʌnpˈæk ˈænd sˈɛtəl ˈɪn/
fixed phrase
put things away and get comfortable
To unpack your things and relax in a new place.
Examples
- We’ll unpack and settle in, then head out to explore the city.
- Take a few minutes to unpack and settle in before the meeting starts.
- After we unpacked and settled in, the hotel felt like home.
Learner examples
- I will unpack and settle in.
- They unpacked and settled in.
unpack your feelings
1/ʌnpˈæk jˈʊɹ fˈilɪŋz/
fixed phrase
talk through your emotions
To explain how you feel and why.
Examples
- After the argument, she needed time to unpack her feelings.
- In therapy, he started to unpack his feelings about the divorce.
- It helps to unpack your feelings before you respond.
Learner examples
- I want to unpack my feelings.
- She is unpacking her feelings.