WordGarden.iounhitch
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ʌnhˈɪtʃ/
US
- /ənˈhɪtʃ/
Meanings
Verb
to detach a trailer or other towed unit from a vehicle
to release a horse or other draft animal from what it is pulling
Beyond the definition
To unhitch something means to disconnect it from whatever it is attached to, especially when a horse, trailer, wagon, or similar thing has been hooked in place. You can picture a horse being unhitched from a carriage or a trailer being taken off a truck. The word suggests a clear, deliberate act of loosening and separating something that had been secured.
The image is usually literal: ropes, chains, or metal couplings coming free at the end of a task or journey. In a broader sense, it can also suggest stepping away from something that has kept you tied to a duty or load. Think of a traveler at the end of a long road who unhitches the wagon so the horses can finally rest.
The word "unhitch" means to disconnect something that has been fastened by a hitch, hook, chain, rope, or coupling. It is most often used for animals, wagons, trailers, plows, or other equipment that has been attached for pulling or towing. A horse can be unhitched from a carriage, or a trailer can be unhitched from a vehicle. The idea is not just that something comes loose, but that it is deliberately taken off after being properly secured.
The word has a strong physical feel, and that literal use is by far the most common. You might hear it in farming, transport, travel, or older stories where animals pull carts and wagons. For example: "After the long trip, they unhitched the horses and led them to water," or "He unhitched the trailer before backing the truck into the garage." In each case, the sense is simple and concrete: one thing is no longer connected to the other.
Sometimes "unhitch" is used figuratively, but this is less common and usually works best when the image of being physically tied to something is still clear. A writer might say someone is trying to unhitch themselves from a burden, a duty, or a past commitment. Even then, the word still carries the picture of release after strain or effort. Whether it appears in a farmyard, on the road, or in a more imaginative sentence, "unhitch" tells the story of something being carefully detached so it is free to move on.
Examples
- 1
Trailer
We pulled over so Dad could unhitch the trailer from the truck.
- 2
Horse and cart
At the end of the day, she led the horse into the barn and unhitched it from the cart.
- 3
Accidental disconnection
One of the small boats came unhitched on the rough road, so we had to stop and secure it again.
- Phrasecome unhitched
become disconnected by accident
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- unhitchverb