undo
reverse or cancel an earlier action
To make something go back to how it was before an action, often by using a button or command, or by removing the effect of the action.
to undo [an action / a change / the damage]
- If you make a mistake, just press Ctrl+Z to undo your last action.
- Nothing can undo the harm that was done to those families.
- The new policy could undo many of the improvements made over the last decade.
- Is there any way to undo that move in this game?
- Click here to undo all recent changes to the document.
- You can undo a mistake by clicking this button.
- I wish I could undo what I said to her.
- This update may undo all the work we did last year.
- The government is trying to undo the damage from the storm.
- He quickly undid the change when he saw the problem.
unfasten something tied, buttoned, or zipped
To open or make loose something that was closed or held together, like a button, zip, or knot.
to undo [a button / a zip / a knot / a strap]
- Please undo your seat belt only after the plane has stopped.
- She undid the top button of her shirt to cool down.
- He quickly undid the knot and opened the bag.
- I can't undo this zip; it's stuck.
- The child undid the straps on his shoes by himself.
- You should undo your shoes before you take them off.
- She undid her coat when she came inside.
- He undid the belt and hung up his trousers.
- Can you undo this knot for me?
- The man undid the zip on his bag.
cause ruin, failure, or downfall
To ruin a person or thing, or to cause someone to lose success and fail.
to undo [someone / something]
- In the end, his own arrogance undid him.
- The scandal could undo the president only months before the election.
- Years of careful diplomacy were almost undone by one careless remark.
- Her addiction threatened to undo all the progress she had made.
- Their lack of preparation may yet undo the whole project.
- His bad choices finally undid him.
- The mistake may undo the team's success.
- Her fear of change could undo her career.
- One big error can undo a small company.
- The crisis nearly undid the new government.
- Base: undo
- 3rd Person Singular: undoes
- Present Participle: undoing
- Past: undid
- Past Participle: undone
- Irregular past: undid Verb
- Irregular past participle: undone Verb
be undone by [something]
1be ruined or defeated by something
To fail or be ruined because of a particular thing, such as a weakness, mistake, or problem.
- In the end, the company was undone by poor management.
- He was undone by his own pride and refusal to listen.
cannot be undone
1impossible to reverse or cancel
Used to say that something has happened and it is not possible to change it back or remove its effect.
- Be careful: once you delete these files, the action cannot be undone.
- Some choices in life cannot be undone.
come undone
1become loose or emotionally fall apart
1) To open by itself when it was fastened (like a button or knot). 2) To become very upset or unable to stay calm and in control.
- My shoelaces keep coming undone while I run.
- Her hair came undone and fell over her shoulders.
- After the divorce, he completely came undone and stopped going to work.
leave [something] undone
1not do something that needs doing
To not finish a task, duty, or job that you are expected to do.
- I hate leaving work undone at the end of the day.
- Many repairs were left undone because of the budget cuts.
undo the damage
1try to remove earlier harm
To make the bad results of something less serious, or to try to make things as good as they were before the harm happened.
- Planting more trees may help undo the damage caused by the fire.
- No amount of money can undo the damage done to their relationship.
undo the past
1change what has already happened
To make past events different or as if they did not happen, usually said to show that this is impossible.
- He knows he cannot undo the past, but he wants to make up for his mistakes.
- You can't undo the past, but you can choose what to do next.