Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense unties, present participle untying, past tense, past participle untied
1. verb
If you untie something that is tied to another thing or if you untie two things that are tied together, you remove the string or rope that holds them or that has been tied round them.
Nicholas untied the boat from her mooring. [VERB noun]
Just untie my hands. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: undo, free, release, loosen More Synonyms of untie
2. verb
If you untie something such as string or rope, you undo it so that there is no knot or so that it is no longer tying something.
She hurriedly untied the ropes binding her ankles. [VERB noun]
Then she untied her silk scarf. [VERB noun]
3. verb
When you untie your shoelaces or your shoes, you loosen or undo the laces of your shoes.
She untied the laces on one of her sneakers. [VERB noun]
Your boot lace is untied. [VERB-ed]
untie in British English
(ʌnˈtaɪ)
verbWord forms: -ties, -tying or -tied
1.
to unfasten or free (a knot or something that is tied) or (of a knot or something that is tied) to become unfastened
2. (transitive)
to free from constraint or restriction
untie in American English
(ʌnˈtaɪ)
verb transitiveWord forms: unˈtied, unˈtying or unˈtieing
1.
to loosen, undo, or unfasten (something tied or knotted)
2.
to free, as from difficulty, restraint, etc.
3.
to resolve (perplexities, etc.)
verb intransitive
4.
to become untied
Word origin
ME unteien < OE untigan: see un- & tie
Examples of 'untie' in a sentence
untie
He leered at her before flicking at one cord until it was loose, leaving her to untie the other.
Dobbs, Michael THE TOUCH OF INNOCENTS (2002)
Then, I can assure you, we will come and untie your lines ourselves.
Philip Marsden THE MAIN CAGES (2002)
The instant he was gone, the doors of the boathouse opened and Sam Davis scampered in to untie Bob and Pete.
Arden, William THE MYSTERY OF THE PURPLE PIRATE (2002)
When you untie the knot you're freeing that energy for other purposes.
Isobel Bird CIRCLE OF THREE: BOOK 10: MAKING THE SAINT (2002)
In other languages
untie
British English: untie /ʌnˈtaɪ/ VERB
If you untie something that is tied to another thing, or if you untie two things that are tied together, you remove the string or rope that holds them.