unravel
gb/ʌnɹˈævəl/ us/ʌnɹˈævəl/
B2
English
kibogoz, kigubancol, felgöngyölít, bomlik, foszlik, szétesik, felbomlik, szétzilál, aláás
VERB
B2
1
kibogoz
B2
kigubancol
B2
Usage pattern:
unravel [something]
She patiently unraveled the knot in the fishing line.
Türelmesen kibogozta a horgászzsinóron lévő csomót.
I unraveled the yarn and rewound it into a neat ball.
Kibogoztam a fonalat, és újra szép gombolyaggá tekertem.
He used a pin to unravel the tight tangle of thread.
Learner examples
I unraveled the string.
Kibogoztam a zsinórt.
She unraveled a knot in her hair.
Kibogozott egy csomót a hajában.
Common mistake:
Learners may use *unravel* for any kind of opening (e.g., a door); it usually refers to threads/strings or to solving/understanding something.
Meaning
untwist or disentangle threads
Collocations
unravel a knot
|unravel tangled thread
|unravel the yarn
|unravel a ball of wool
|unravel the string
|unravel a necklace chain
|unravel a tangle
|unravel hair
|unravel the rope
|unravel the cord
Synonyms
untangle (Most common for removing knots and tangles.)
|
disentangle (Often suggests careful separation of something intertwined.)
|
unwind (Focuses on reversing a winding or coiling motion.)
Antonyms
tangle (To create knots or confusion in threads or hair.)
|
entangle (To twist together so it becomes hard to separate.)
Themes
daily_life
|clothing
|materials
Definition
To make threads or string straight again by taking out knots and twists.
To separate and straighten threads, string, or hair that has become twisted, tangled, or knotted; to undo the twists in something long and flexible.
VERB
B2
2
kibogoz
B2
felgöngyölít
C1
Usage pattern:
unravel [a mystery/problem/story]
Detectives unraveled the mystery after a new witness came forward.
A nyomozók kibogozták a rejtélyt, miután egy új tanú jelentkezett.
It took weeks to unravel exactly how the data was leaked.
Hetekbe telt kibogozni, pontosan hogyan szivárogtak ki az adatok.
The documentary unravels the events leading up to the crash.
Learner examples
The police unraveled the mystery.
A rendőrség kibogozta a rejtélyt.
I finally unraveled what went wrong.
Végre kiderítettem, mi ment félre.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse *unravel* where simple *find out* fits better; *unravel* suggests a complex situation with many details.
Meaning
solve or explain something complex
Collocations
unravel a mystery
|unravel the truth
|unravel the story
|unravel a plot
|unravel the case
|unravel a puzzle
|unravel the cause
|unravel what happened
|unravel the reasons
|unravel the details
Synonyms
figure out (More informal and general; less dramatic than *unravel*.)
|
decipher (Often used for codes, unclear writing, or hard-to-read meaning.)
|
solve (Neutral problem-solving; *unravel* highlights complexity and step-by-step discovery.)
Antonyms
confuse (To make something harder to understand.)
|
obscure (To hide or make the truth unclear.)
Themes
learning
|work
|crime
|media
Definition
To find the explanation for something difficult to understand.
To discover, explain, or understand how something complicated happened, especially by finding the hidden details and connections.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
[something] unravels
After a few washes, the seam began to unravel.
Néhány mosás után a varrás bomlani kezdett.
One loose thread can make the whole cuff unravel.
Egyetlen laza szál miatt az egész mandzsetta felbomolhat.
The old rope unraveled when he pulled on it.
Learner examples
My sweater is unraveling.
Bomlik a pulóverem.
The seam unraveled.
A varrás felbomlott.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse *unravel* with *rip*; *unravel* often involves threads loosening rather than a sudden tear.
Meaning
come apart into loose threads
Collocations
the seam unraveled
|the hem unraveled
|the stitching unraveled
|the sweater unraveled
|fabric unraveling
|unravel at the edge
|unravel quickly
|unravel over time
|start to unravel
|unravel completely
Synonyms
fray (Specifically about edges becoming worn and threadbare.)
|
come apart (General; can apply beyond fabric.)
|
unpick (Often deliberate removal of stitching (more common in British English).)
Antonyms
hold together (To remain joined and not come apart.)
|
stay intact (To remain whole and undamaged.)
Themes
daily_life
|clothing
|materials
Definition
To start to come apart, with threads becoming loose.
To start coming apart, especially as threads loosen and separate from cloth, rope, or stitching.
VERB
C1
4
Usage pattern:
[a plan/relationship/system] unravels
Their agreement unraveled when neither side would compromise.
A megállapodásuk felbomlott, amikor egyik fél sem volt hajlandó kompromisszumot kötni.
As costs rose, the whole business plan began to unravel.
Ahogy emelkedtek a költségek, az egész üzleti terv kezdett szétesni.
After the scandal, public trust unraveled quickly.
Learner examples
The plan unraveled.
A terv szétesett.
Their relationship unraveled.
A kapcsolatuk felbomlott.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *unravel* for sudden failure; it more often suggests a gradual breakdown with many small problems.
Meaning
gradually fall apart or collapse
Collocations
a plan unraveled
|the deal unraveled
|talks unraveled
|their marriage unraveled
|the project unraveled
|the system unraveled
|unravel under pressure
|unravel over time
|begin to unravel
|start to unravel
Synonyms
break down (Very common; can be sudden or gradual.)
|
collapse (Often more sudden and complete than *unravel*.)
|
disintegrate (Stronger and more formal; suggests total falling apart.)
Antonyms
stabilize (To become steady and stop changing for the worse.)
|
cohere (To stay logically connected and consistent.)
Themes
relationships
|work
|politics
|emotions
Definition
To slowly break down so it no longer works.
To gradually lose order, strength, or stability so that a plan, relationship, organization, or situation stops working.
VERB
C1
5
Usage pattern:
unravel [something]
One false rumour unraveled months of careful negotiations.
Egyetlen hamis pletyka szétzilálta a hónapokig gondosan folytatott tárgyalásokat.
The ruling could unravel key protections for consumers.
Az ítélet alááshatja a fogyasztók kulcsfontosságú védelmét.
A lack of funding unraveled the program within a year.
Learner examples
The mistake unraveled our plan.
A hiba szétzilálta a tervünket.
The decision unraveled the agreement.
A döntés felborította a megállapodást.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with meaning 4 (intransitive). In this sense, someone or something actively *unravels* a plan or progress.
Meaning
cause something to fall apart
Collocations
unravel an agreement
|unravel a deal
|unravel reforms
|unravel progress
|unravel the coalition
|unravel negotiations
|unravel years of work
|unravel a partnership
|unravel a strategy
|unravel the settlement
Synonyms
undermine (Weakens something gradually rather than fully undoing it.)
|
dismantle (Suggests taking something apart deliberately and systematically.)
|
roll back (Common in politics/policy; reverse changes already made.)
Antonyms
strengthen (To make something more stable and effective.)
|
build (To create or develop something rather than undo it.)
Themes
work
|business
|politics
|law
Definition
To make something stop working by undoing it.
To cause a plan, system, or achievement to be undone or to stop functioning, often by removing key parts or support.
Grammar
Dictionary form
unravel
IPA
GB/ʌnɹˈævəl/
US/ʌnɹˈævəl/
Syllables & stress
un - ravel (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ravel)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: unravel
- 3rd Person Singular: unravels
- Present Participle: unraveling, unravelling
- Past: unraveled, unravelled
Expressions
unravel at the seams
1/ʌnɹˈævəl ˈæt ðə sˈimz/
idiom
fall apart badly
To be failing badly and quickly.
Examples
- By mid-season, the team was unraveling at the seams.
- After the merger, the company started unraveling at the seams.
- Without clear leadership, the project began to unravel at the seams.
Learner examples
- The plan is unraveling at the seams.
- Our schedule is unraveling at the seams.